The manuscript addresses the digital quantum simulation of bosonic systems, by combining a boson-fermion mapping with a fermion-qubit mapping (Jordan-Wigner transformation). As a first example of the potential of this technique, they consider the paradigmatic quantum-optical experiment of Hong-Ou-Mandel. They discriminate between two different scenarios, regarding the existence or absence of internal degrees of freedom, this possibility being one of the advantages of their toolbox.
The topic is very timely and relevant. The combination of techniques is original and sound, and is potentially useful for the community. The exemplification with the HOM dip is very interesting. The mansucript is well written, with only minor typos that can be corrected during the editorial process. The formalism is very clearly laid out and in general the results are put adequately into general perspective. However, I have some comments regarding previous literature and the experimental results, whose presentation needs to be improved:
-In the case of HOM experiment with no internal degrees of freedom, there is no discussion of the results, we just see the histogram plot of the probabilities. How does this relate with the expected results? Are the results satisfactory? Are there errors? Why? etc. Presumably, we need some notion of fidelity or similar to analyze it.
-Regarding the experimental setup, IBM Quantum possess several devices. Why they choose london in particular? How many qubits? What are the technical specifications? -gates and measurement errors, quantum volume, connectivity etc. The same goes with IONQ.
-I believe this case has been already considered in the literature, see reference [17] How does the results here are related to the ones in this reference?
