ECAMP 15

We investigate the application of quantum annealing on the D-Wave Advantage 2 platform for both combinatorial optimization and quantum many-body physics. First, we explore room scheduling optimization for sports camps at the Australian Institute of Sport, formulating the problem as a binary integer programming task. By comparing classical, hybrid, and quantum annealing approaches, we assess embedding challenges and the feasibility of quantum solutions given current hardware limitations. We explore and propose solutions for problem-aware calibration, correcting long-range interactions detrimental to the model. Second, we investigate the experimental realization of a classical $Z_2$ spin liquid using a native embedding on the Advantage 2 hardware. We present progress toward studying defect transport by initializing defects and tracking their evolution, demonstrating the potential of quantum annealing for probing emergent phenomena, even in noisy environments.