NIST physicists have developed a quantum simulator capable of simulating interactions among hundreds of quantum bits (qubits), a significant advancement in quantum computing research. The simulator, which consists of a crystal of hundreds of beryllium ions, allows researchers to study complex quantum systems that are impossible to model on conventional computers. By exploiting quantum properties like superposition and entanglement, the simulator can engineer interactions between qubits and simulate materials’ quantum behavior.
The NIST simulator represents a major step forward in quantum simulation research, as it can handle hundreds of qubits, far exceeding previous devices. This exponential increase in qubit number allows the simulator to explore quantum state spaces that are intractable for conventional computers. The research, supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has implications for understanding and designing materials with complex quantum properties, such as high-temperature superconductors.
Keywords: qubits, quantum, simulator, superposition, entanglement
