Quantum Annealing vs Thermal Annealing

Classical thermal annealing hops over energy barriers (Arrhenius rate ∝ e^{−ΔE/T}); quantum annealing tunnels through them (rate ∝ e^{−√(2mΔE)·w/ℏ·Γ}). As temperature/tunneling decreases, watch each strategy find (or miss) the global minimum.

Thermal particle
Quantum particle
Global minimum