Spin model for quantum annealing with Kerr parametric oscillators

Coherent states offer a promising path for near-term quantum computing due to their inherent protection against bit-flip noise. However, their large photon numbers can be challenging for numerical simulation. This paper introduces an effective model, representing coherent-state quantum annealing using spin-1/2 degrees of freedom. We demonstrate that this model yields accurate predictions for realistic experimental settings and can therefore serve as a practical tool for optimizing future quantum hardware.