Quantum computers revolutionise computational science

Quantum simulation is an often overlooked part of the Quantum Information Technology (QIT) revolution that is currently happening around the world. QIT promises new approaches to computing, inherently secure communications and the ability to solve intractable computational problems. However, perhaps one of the most essential offerings will be a better ability to understand nature and its fundamentals.

Existing digital computers make valiant attempts to mimic the complex processes we find in nature, but despite the ever increasing and cheaper volumes of processing power, few can match the complexity of quantum physics. For many of the most fundamental problems – often the most valuable in chemistry and physics – classical computing proves to be inadequate. Quantum computers are expected to perform better in these areas, but the best modelling of quantum dynamics could be provided by a quantum system that we can manipulate. This is known as a quantum simulator.