Simulating Electron Transfer in a Molecular Triad within an Optical Cavity Using NISQ Computers

Abstract: We present a quantum algorithm based on the Tensor-Train Thermo-Field Dynamics (TT-TFD) method to simulate the open quantum system dynamics of intramolecular charge transfer modulated by an optical cavity on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers. We apply our methodology to a model that describes the $\pi\pi^*$ to CT1 intermolecular charge transfer within the carotenoid-porphyrin-C60 molecular triad solvated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and placed inside an optical cavity. We find how the dynamics is influenced by the cavity resonance frequency and strength of the light-matter interaction, showcasing the NISQ-based simulations to capture these effects. Furthermore, we compare the approximate predictions of Fermi's Golden Rule (FGR) rate theory and Ring-Polymer Molecular Dynamics (RPMD) to numerically exact calculations, showing the capabilitis of quantum computing methods to assess the limitations of approximate methods.