  The emergence of quantum computing technology over the last decade indicates
the potential for a transformational impact in the study of quantum mechanical
systems. It is natural to presume that such computing technologies would be
valuable to large scientific institutions, such as United States national
laboratories. However, detailed descriptions of what these institutions would
like to use these computers for are limited. To help provide some initial
insights into this topic, this report develops detailed use cases of how
quantum computing technology could be utilized to enhance a variety of quantum
physics research activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory, including
quantum magnetic materials, high-temperature superconductivity and nuclear
astrophysics simulations. The report discusses how current high-performance
computers are used for scientific discovery today and develops detailed
descriptions of the types of quantum physics simulations that Los Alamos
National Laboratory scientists would like to conduct, if a sufficient computing
technology became available. While the report strives to highlight the breadth
of potential application areas for quantum computation, this investigation has
also indicated that many more use cases exist at Los Alamos National
Laboratory, which could be documented in similar detail with sufficient time
and effort.
