We investigate a quantum algorithm that simulates efficiently the quantum kicked rotator model, a system that displays rich physical properties and enables to study problems of quantum chaos, atomic physics, and localization of electrons in solids. The effects of errors in gate operations are tested on this algorithm in numerical simulations with up to 20 qubits. In this way various physical quantities are investigated. Some of them, such as second moment of probability distribution and tunneling transitions through invariant curves, are shown to be particularly sensitive to errors. However, investigations of the fidelity and the Wigner and Husimi distributions show that these physical quantities are robust in presence of imperfections. This implies that the algorithm can simulate the dynamics of quantum chaos in presence of a moderate amount of noise.

• Received 21 October 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.046220