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Practical quantum advantage in quantum simulation

Nature volume 607, pages 667–676 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

The development of quantum computing across several technologies and platforms has reached the point of having an advantage over classical computers for an artificial problem, a point known as ‘quantum advantage’. As a next step along the development of this technology, it is now important to discuss ‘practical quantum advantage’, the point at which quantum devices will solve problems of practical interest that are not tractable for traditional supercomputers. Many of the most promising short-term applications of quantum computers fall under the umbrella of quantum simulation: modelling the quantum properties of microscopic particles that are directly relevant to modern materials science, high-energy physics and quantum chemistry. This would impact several important real-world applications, such as developing materials for batteries, industrial catalysis or nitrogen fixing. Much as aerodynamics can be studied either through simulations on a digital computer or in a wind tunnel, quantum simulation can be performed not only on future fault-tolerant digital quantum computers but also already today through special-purpose analogue quantum simulators. Here we overview the state of the art and future perspectives for quantum simulation, arguing that a first practical quantum advantage already exists in the case of specialized applications of analogue devices, and that fully digital devices open a full range of applications but require further development of fault-tolerant hardware. Hybrid digital–analogue devices that exist today already promise substantial flexibility in near-term applications.

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Fig. 1: Overview of quantum simulators.
Fig. 2: Quantum advantage of quantum simulators over classical simulation.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge discussions with B. Kraus and G. H. Low. This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 817482 PASQuanS. Work at the University of Strathclyde was supported by the EPSRC Programme Grant DesOEQ (EP/P009565/1), the EPSRC Hub in Quantum Computing and simulation (EP/T001062/1) and AFOSR grant number FA9550-18-1-0064.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

    Andrew J. Daley, Stuart Flannigan & Natalie Pearson

  2. Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany

    Immanuel Bloch

  3. Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany

    Immanuel Bloch

  4. Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Munich, Germany

    Immanuel Bloch

  5. Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Christian Kokail & Peter Zoller

  6. Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria

    Christian Kokail & Peter Zoller

  7. Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA

    Matthias Troyer

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All authors discussed the topics addressed in this Perspective, wrote the article and agreed on the final text. The example of Fig. 2 was produced by S.F. and A.J.D., the digital gate count example was produced by N.P. and M.T., and the Box 3 example was produced by C.K. and P.Z., in discussion with all authors.

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Correspondence to Andrew J. Daley.

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M.T. notes that Microsoft is developing digital quantum computers and offers quantum computers and simulators in Azure. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Daley, A.J., Bloch, I., Kokail, C. et al. Practical quantum advantage in quantum simulation. Nature 607, 667–676 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04940-6

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