Quantum computers just simulated...

Quantum computers just simulated physics too complex for supercomputers

Researchers created scalable quantum circuits capable of simulating fundamental nuclear physics on more than 100 qubits. These circuits efficiently prepare complex initial states that classical computers cannot handle. The achievement demonstrates a new path toward simulating particle collisions and extreme forms of matter. It may ultimately illuminate long-standing cosmic mysteries.

An artist’s impression of a quantum electrodynamics simulation using 100 qubits of an IBM quantum computer. The spheres and lines denote the qubits and connectivity of the IBM quantum processor; gold spheres denote the qubits used in the simulation. Credit: Roland Farrell, Marc Illa, Anthony Ciavarella, and Martin J. Savage

Scientists study matter under extreme conditions to uncover some of nature's most fundamental behaviors. The Standard Model of particle physics contains the equations needed to describe these phenomena, but in many real situations such as fast-changing environments or extremely dense matter, those equations become too complex for even the most advanced classical supercomputers to handle.

Quantum computing offers a promising alternative because, in principle, it can represent and simulate these systems far more efficiently. A major challenge, however, is finding reliable methods to set up the initial quantum state that a simulation needs. In this work, researchers achieved a first: they created scalable quantum circuits capable of preparing the starting state of a particle collision similar to those produced in particle accelerators. Their test focuses on the strong interactions described by the Standard Model.