These specialized analog computers, also known as “quantum simulators”Work using the quantum mechanical properties of nanoscale components in circuits. They allow us to simulate certain models in quantum physics, making it possible to solve previously unattainable problems.

Let’s try to explain in simple words

Quantum simulators are like little superintelligent computers that help us solve problems that ordinary computers cannot handle. To find answers, they work on the principles of quantum mechanics that help them behave like the objects or phenomena they are trying to understand (i.e., they simulate their behavior). Scientists use them to learn about the really big, complex things that surround us.

Why is this discovery really important?

The new Quantum Simulator architecture includes hybrid metal semiconductor components embedded in a nanoelectronic circuit.

One such issue that has long intrigued scientists is a better understanding of superconductivity. Current superconducting materials only operate at extremely low temperatures, limiting their widespread use. The discovery of materials that are superconducting at room temperature will revolutionize the use of these materials in many technologies.

How are quantum simulators used in practice?

Everything is quite simple, but at first glance it does not seem so. The main idea behind these analog devices is to create a kind of hardware analogy to the problem being solved, rather than writing code for a programmable digital computer. By building electronic circuits with nanoscale components governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, the researchers were able to model bulk quantum matter and design new microscopic quantum interactions.

To demonstrate the power of analog quantum computing, the researchers first studied a simple circuit made up of two interconnected quantum components. By changing the electric voltage, they were able to create a new state of matter in which electrons have only 1/3 of their normal electric charge.

This revolutionary discovery could lead to the creation of the next generation of scalable solid-state analog quantum computers that can model systems much more complex than today’s computers.

Some problems are too complex for even the fastest digital classical computers to solve. Accurate modeling of complex quantum materials such as high-temperature superconductors is indeed a prime example, this type of computation is far beyond current capabilities due to the exponential computation time and memory requirements required to simulate the properties of realistic models.
said Dr Andrew Mitchell, director of UCD’s Center for Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology and co-author of the paper.

This new type of quantum computer marks an important milestone in the field of quantum computing and has enormous potential to solve some of the most important unsolved problems in physics. By scaling quantum simulators from two to many nanoscale components, the researchers hope they can model much more complex systems and gain a deeper understanding of the physical world.