Quantum Mechanics Project - XY Hamiltonian and iSWAP Gate Simulation

This project is implemented as a part of the PHY F311 - Quantum Mechanics 2 at BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, and intends to simulate the XY Hamiltonian time evolution and demonstrates the iSWAP gate implementation using Qiskit.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher
• pip (Python package installer)

Setup Instructions

1. Clone and Navigate to the Project Directory

git clone https://github.com/atharvap2505/iSWAP_gate_simulation.git
cd iSWAP_gate_simulation

2. Create a Virtual Environment

Create a virtual environment to isolate project dependencies:

python -m venv venv

3. Activate the Virtual Environment

On Linux/Mac:

source venv/bin/activate

On Windows:

venv\Scripts\activate

You should see (venv) prefix in your terminal prompt, indicating the virtual environment is active.

4. Install Dependencies

Install all required packages using the requirements file:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Running in VS Code

1. Open the Project in VS Code

Open VS Code and navigate to the project folder:

code .

Or use File → Open Folder in VS Code.

2. Install Required Extensions

Install the following VS Code extensions:

• Python (by Microsoft)
• Jupyter (by Microsoft)

You can install them by:

• Opening the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X on Mac)
• Searching for "Python" and "Jupyter"
• Clicking Install

3. Open the Notebook

Open iSWAP_simulation.ipynb in VS Code. It should open in the notebook editor.

4. Select Python Interpreter

1. Click on the kernel picker in the top-right corner of the notebook (it may say "Select Kernel")
2. Choose Python Environments
3. Select the virtual environment you created (venv)
   • It should be listed as ./venv/bin/python or similar

5. Run the Notebook

Execute cells by:

• Clicking the ▶ Run button next to each cell
• Pressing Shift + Enter to run the current cell and move to the next
• Using Run All from the top toolbar to execute all cells

The first cell will automatically install required packages if they're missing.

Running with Jupyter Notebook (Alternative)

If you prefer the classic Jupyter interface:

jupyter notebook

This will open a browser window. Click on iSWAP_simulation.ipynb to open the notebook.

Execute the cells in order by pressing Shift + Enter or using the "Run All" option from the Cell menu.

Deactivating the Virtual Environment

When you're done working on the project, deactivate the virtual environment:

deactivate

Project Structure

• iSWAP_simulation.ipynb - Main Jupyter notebook containing the simulation code
• requirements.txt - Python package dependencies
• README.md - This file
• documentation.pdf - Compiled PDF documentation of the code and theory
• concurrence_plot.png - Generated plot of entanglement dynamics
• circuit_diagram.txt - Text representation of the quantum circuit

Dependencies

• numpy: Numerical computing library
• matplotlib: Plotting and visualization
• qiskit: Quantum computing framework
• qiskit-aer: High-performance simulator for Qiskit

Troubleshooting

Import Errors

If you encounter import errors, ensure:

1. The virtual environment is activated
2. All packages are installed: pip list should show qiskit, numpy, matplotlib, and qiskit-aer
3. Try reinstalling: pip install --force-reinstall -r requirements.txt

VS Code Kernel Issues

If the notebook can't find the packages in VS Code:

1. Make sure you've selected the correct Python interpreter (the one in your venv folder)
2. Try reloading the window: Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) → "Developer: Reload Window"
3. Restart VS Code completely

Classic Jupyter Kernel Issues

If using Jupyter Notebook and it can't find the packages:

1. Install ipykernel: pip install ipykernel
2. Add the virtual environment to Jupyter: python -m ipykernel install --user --name=venv
3. In Jupyter, select Kernel → Change Kernel → venv

Additional Resources

• Qiskit Documentation
• Qiskit Tutorials
• See documentation.pdf for detailed explanation of the physics and code