Simulating the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in Qiskit

• Letícia Caldas Federal University of Pelotas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2292-7849
• Vitor Oliveira Federal University of Pelotas http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5818-4133
• Ulian G. A. Ramires Federal University of Pelotas
• Cecília Botelho Federal University of Pelotas
• Rafael Amaral Federal University of Pelotas
• Helida Santos Federal University of Rio Grande http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2994-2862
• Giancarlo Lucca Federal University of Rio Grande / Catholic University of Pelotas http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3776-0260
• Anderson Cruz Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1505-352X
• Renata H. R. Reiser Federal University of Pelotas http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9934-3115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/weit.2023.26603

Abstract

The Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) is an optical device that utilizes beam splitters and mirrors to create interference between paths of light or quantum particles. The interpretation of MZI using the Qiskit framework by IBM involves modeling and simulating this interferometer in a quantum circuit using the quantum computing programming. In this context, each path of the interferometer is represented by a qubit, and the beam splitters and mirrors are modeled by quantum gates that manipulate these qubits. In this work, we analyse 03 case-studies. From the measurement results, interference patterns can be analyzed, and information about the phase difference between the interferometer paths can be obtained. This information can be used to measure very small phase displacements and to perform quantum interferometry experiments.

Keywords: Interferometer, Mach-Zehnder, Qiskit, quantum computing, qubit

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