  The field of quantum information has matured and various protocols
implementing a quantum computer are being pursued. Most similar to a classical
computer is the circuit model. In 2007 Aharonov et al. showed the equivalence
between the circuit model and a quantum annealer, and with this proofed the
universality of quantum annealing. Here the system starts in an easily
preparable ground state and evolves adiabatically to a final ground state which
yields the solution of the computational problem. However, equivalence with the
circuit model requires multi-local interactions, i.e. interaction terms
involving more than two subsystems. Natural interactions are only two-local,
hence the construction or simulation of higher order couplers is indispensable
for a universal quantum annealer. Also, four-local couplers allow compact
implementation of error correction with the Bacon-Shor code. Four-local
interactions can further serve as a tool for basic research. Here we show that
in a specific flux qubit coupler design without ancilla qubits, four body
interactions are induced by virtual coupler excitations. For specific parameter
regimes they are even the leading effect and can be tuned up to the GHz range.
