Pushing the Boundaries of Physics: Physicists Harness Quantum Computers

**IBM’s Quantum Computing Roadmap: A Look at the Future of Quantum Processors**

IBM Research has been at the forefront of developing quantum computers, with a goal of creating quantum processors with thousands of qubits by 2025. While quantum computers are not expected to replace classical computers, they offer the potential to solve complex computing challenges that classical machines cannot handle effectively. IBM’s latest accessible fleet of quantum computers, based on the company’s 127-qubit Eagle processor, is now being rolled out. In order to harness the potential of quantum computing, IBM has created four quantum working groups focused on healthcare and life sciences, high energy physics, materials research, and financial optimization. These collaborative efforts aim to explore the various applications of quantum computers in different industries.

**Exploring Quantum Computing’s Potential in Healthcare and Life Sciences**

The healthcare and life sciences industry is exploring the use of quantum computers to tackle challenges such as accelerated molecular discovery and patient risk prediction models. Organizations like Cleveland Clinic are working with IBM to leverage the power of quantum computing in advancing biomedical research.

**Unraveling the Mysteries of High Energy Physics with Quantum Computers**

International research institutions like CERN and DESY are partnering with IBM to explore the potential of quantum computers in high energy physics (HEP). Quantum computers could be used to reconstruct particle collision events and expand theoretical models for HEP. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the study of particle physics and push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.

**Advancing Materials Research with Quantum Simulations**

Companies and organizations including Boeing, Bosch, The University of Chicago, Oak Ridge National Lab, ExxonMobil, and RIKEN are collaborating with IBM to develop new methods for simulating the behavior of materials in various environments. Quantum simulations have the potential to revolutionize materials research, enabling more accurate predictions and accelerating the discovery of new materials with desired properties.

**Revolutionizing Financial Optimization with Quantum Computing**

Global financial institutions like E.ON and Wells Fargo are exploring the use of quantum computers to solve complex financial and sustainability optimization problems. Quantum computers can handle calculations that are currently beyond the capabilities of classical computers, offering the potential to revolutionize the field of financial optimization.

**IBM’s “100 ⊗ 100 Challenge” and the Future of Quantum Computing**

IBM Research has posed the “100 ⊗ 100 challenge,” which aims to explore the potential applications of quantum computers capable of producing unbiased results in less than one day from a quantum computer with 100 qubits running gate circuits with a depth of 100 layers. Although no quantum computer currently exists with such capabilities, IBM’s confidence in its future generation of quantum computers based on the parallelizable 133-qubit Heron processor is driving this challenge. The Heron-based quantum computers, expected to be available next year, will open up new possibilities for solving complex problems using quantum computing tools.

**Quantum Computing’s Potential in High-Energy Physics**

The Quantum Computing for High-Energy Physics (QC4HEP) Working Group, led by IBM, CERN, and DESY, aims to explore the potential applications of quantum computing in high-energy physics. In a recent publication titled “Quantum Computing for High-Energy Physics State of the Art and Challenges,” researchers discuss the theoretical and experimental problems in high-energy physics that quantum computers could potentially address. The ability of quantum computers to handle large volumes of data, detect rare events, and simulate physical effects in detectors could revolutionize the field of particle physics.

**Quantum Computing’s Impact on Theoretical Physics**

Classical supercomputers have been successful in solving many-particle Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) problems using lattice field theory methods. However, these computers struggle with problems involving high particle density or real-time phenomena. Quantum computing techniques have the potential to overcome these challenges and provide greater precision in simulating complex theoretical models related to violations of CP symmetry and the behavior of extreme conditions such as quark-gluon plasma and neutron stars.

In conclusion, IBM’s quantum computing roadmap is paving the way for the development of more powerful quantum processors with thousands of qubits by 2025. Collaborative efforts with organizations and institutions in various industries are exploring the potential applications of quantum computing in fields such as healthcare and life sciences, high energy physics, materials research, and financial optimization. By harnessing the power of quantum computing, researchers aim to tackle complex problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers, opening up new possibilities for scientific discovery and technological advancements.