Creating a quantum computer powerful enough to tackle problems we cannot solve with current computers remains a big challenge for quantum physicists. A well-functioning quantum simulator—a specific type of quantum computer—could lead to new discoveries about how the world works at the smallest scales.
Quantum scientist Natalia Chepiga from Delft University of Technology has developed a guide on how to upgrade these machines so that they can simulate even more complex quantum systems. The study is now published in Physical Review Letters.
"Creating useful quantum computers and quantum simulators is one of the most important and debated topics in quantum science today, with the potential to revolutionize society," says researcher Natalia Chepiga. Quantum simulators are a type of quantum computer. Chepiga explains, "Quantum simulators are meant to address open problems of quantum physics to push our understanding of nature further. Quantum computers will have wide applications in various areas of social life, for example, in finances, encryption, and data storage."
"A key ingredient of a useful quantum simulator is the possibility to control or manipulate it," says Chepiga. "Imagine a car without a steering wheel. It can only go forward but cannot turn. Is it useful? Only if you need to go in one particular direction; otherwise, the answer will be 'no!'. If we want to create a quantum computer that will be able to discover new physics phenomena in the near future, we need to build a 'steering wheel' to tune into what seems interesting. In my paper, I propose a protocol that creates a fully controllable quantum simulator."
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