First quantum simulation of baryons

Date:
November 11, 2021
Source:
University of Waterloo
Summary:
Researchers performed the first-ever simulation of baryons --
fundamental quantum particles -- on a quantum computer.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A team of researchers led by an Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC)
faculty member performed the first-ever simulation of baryons --
fundamental quantum particles -- on a quantum computer.


==========================================================================
With their results, the team has taken a step towards more complex
quantum simulations that will allow scientists to study neutron stars,
learn more about the earliest moments of the universe, and realize the revolutionary potential of quantum computers.

"This is an important step forward -- it is the first simulation of
baryons on a quantum computer ever," Christine Muschik, an IQC faculty
member, said.

"Instead of smashing particles in an accelerator, a quantum computer may
one day allow us to simulate these interactions that we use to study the origins of the universe and so much more." Muschik, also a physics and astronomy professor at the University of Waterloo and associate faculty
member at the Perimeter Institute, leads the Quantum Interactions Group,
which studies the quantum simulation of lattice gauge theories. These
theories are descriptions of the physics of reality, including the
Standard Model of particle physics. The more inclusive a gauge theory is
of fields, forces, particles, spatial dimensions and other parameters,
the more complex it is -- and the more difficult it is for a classical supercomputer to model.

Non-Abelian gauge theories are particularly interesting candidates for simulations because they are responsible for the stability of matter
as we know it. Classical computers can simulate the non-Abelian matter described in these theories, but there are important situations --
such as matter with high densities -- that are inaccessible for regular computers. And while the ability to describe and simulate non-Abelian
matter is fundamental for being able to describe our universe, none has
ever been simulated on a quantum computer.

Working with Randy Lewis from York University, Muschik's team at IQC
developed a resource-efficient quantum algorithm that allowed them to
simulate a system within a simple non-Abelian gauge theory on IBM's
cloud quantum computer paired with a classical computer.

With this landmark step, the researchers are blazing a trail towards
the quantum simulation of gauge theories far beyond the capabilities
and resources of even the most powerful supercomputers in the world.

"What's exciting about these results for us is that the theory can be
made so much more complicated," Jinglei Zhang, a postdoctoral fellow at
IQC and the University of Waterloo Department of Physics and Astronomy,
said. "We can consider simulating matter at higher densities, which is
beyond the capability of classical computers." As scientists develop more powerful quantum computers and quantum algorithms, they will be able to simulate the physics of these more complex non-Abelian gauge theories and
study fascinating phenomena beyond the reach of our best supercomputers.

This breakthrough demonstration is an important step towards a new era
of understanding the universe based on quantum simulation.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Waterloo. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yasar Y. Atas, Jinglei Zhang, Randy Lewis, Amin Jahanpour, Jan
F. Haase,
Christine A. Muschik. SU(2) hadrons on a quantum computer via a
variational approach. Nature Communications, 2021; 12 (1) DOI:
10.1038/ s41467-021-26825-4 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211111130354.htm

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