IBM researchers used a 100-plus-qubit quantum computer to defeat a traditional supercomputer in a Nature paper. They competed to simulate physics.
IBM stated in a news release that quantum computing’s ultimate objective is to imitate materials that traditional computers cannot efficiently replicate. “Modeling these is essential to designing more efficient fertilizers, building better batteries, and creating new medicines.”
Quantum computers, which may encode information as zero, one, or both, may be better than conventional computers in optimizing, searching unsorted databases, and simulating nature.
Quantum computers accumulate these small violations.
Due to qubits’ fragility, constructing a usable quantum computer has proved difficult. These qubits are susceptible to noise, which can cause computation mistakes.
This week, IBM researchers used a 127-qubit Eagle quantum processor to simulate the spin dynamics of a material and predict its magnetic field response. This simulation produced massive, entangled states where simulated atoms were coupled.
The researchers separated noise and found the correct result using zero noise extrapolation. Another team of scientists at UC Berkeley ran same simulations on conventional computers and found that the quantum computer’s responses were accurate.
Classical computers can’t solve these problems, especially with more complicated models. Although IBM’s quantum processor is still far from quantum supremacy—where it can dependably outperform a classical computer on the same task—proving that it can produce valuable answers even in noise is a noteworthy accomplishment.
“This is the first time we have seen quantum computers accurately model a physical system in nature beyond leading classical approaches,” IBM Research senior vice president and director Darío Gil stated in the news release.
“To us, this milestone is a significant step in proving that today’s quantum computers are capable, scientific tools that can be used to model problems that are extremely difficult – and perhaps impossible – for classical systems, signaling a new era of utility for quantum computing.”