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Quantum Computing Drug Discovery: Pharma Applications & Molecular Simulation

Quantum computing drug discovery news: pharmaceutical quantum simulation, molecular modeling, protein folding. Roche, Merck & biotech partnerships.

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Quantum computing promises to transform pharmaceutical research by enabling first-principles molecular simulation of drug-target interactions, protein folding dynamics, and chemical reaction mechanisms that classical computers cannot accurately model. The pharmaceutical industry represents one of the highest-value near-term markets for quantum computing.

The Classical Bottleneck

Drug discovery relies heavily on molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory (DFT) to predict how small-molecule drug candidates bind to protein targets. Classical computers cannot simulate strongly correlated electronic systems without exponential approximation errors, forcing reliance on expensive, time-consuming laboratory screening.

India's Pharmaceutical Quantum Computing Landscape

India's pharmaceutical industry, the world's third-largest by volume and a major global supplier of generic drugs, represents a strategic application domain for quantum computing under the National Quantum Mission. The NQM's Quantum Computing Thematic Hub at IISc Bengaluru includes drug discovery and molecular simulation among priority applications. Indian pharmaceutical companies including Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, and Lupin are exploring quantum computing partnerships through collaborations with Indian quantum startups and global quantum cloud providers. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports quantum biology research at institutions including IISc Bengaluru, TIFR Mumbai, and IISER Pune. The NQM targets developing quantum computers capable of simulating molecular systems relevant to drug discovery within the mission's 8-year timeline.

Near-Term Applications (NISQ Era)

Near-term applications in the NISQ era include quantum machine learning for molecular property prediction, quantum optimization of clinical trial design, quantum simulation of small molecules (10-50 atoms) for lead optimization, and hybrid approaches integrating quantum and classical molecular dynamics.

Non-abelian quantum cellular automata: $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills with fermionsquantum-computing

Non-abelian quantum cellular automata: $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills with fermions

--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2609.30285 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 3 Sep 2026] Title:Non-abelian quantum cellular automata: $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills with fermions Authors:Dogukan Bakircioglu, Pablo Arrighi View a PDF of the paper titled Non-abelian quantum cellular automata: $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills with fermions, by Dogukan Bakircioglu and Pablo Arrighi View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:This work provides a digital quantum simulation scheme for $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills theory with Dirac fermions. It takes the form of a quantum circuit, infinitely repeating across space and time with $\Delta_t=\Delta_x=\varepsilon$, whose wires follow lightlike propagation. The construction mirrors the logic of the standard quantum field theory approach, transposed to the discrete setting. Namely, we start from the Dirac quantum walk, restore $SU(2)$ gauge symmetry by introducing the gauge field, lift the walk to a multi-particle QCA while preserving fermionic anticommutation, and equip the gauge field with its own dynamics. Rather than relying on Clebsch--Gordan decompositions, we use the pointwise-product structure of gauge-link updates, which yields self-contained proofs of unitarity and gauge covariance in quantum-computing notation. The construction provides an explicit algorithmic formulation of the theory, whose continuum limit we discuss. Subjects: Quantum Physics (quant-ph); High Energy Physics - Lattice (hep-lat) Cite as: arXiv:2609.30285 [quant-ph]   (or arXiv:2609.30285v1 [quant-ph] for this version)   https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.30285 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite Submission history From: Dogukan Bakircioglu [view email] [v1] Thu, 3 Sep 2026 19:10:11 UTC (41 KB) Full-text links: Access Paper: View a PDF of the paper titled Non-abelian quantum cellular automata: $1{+}1$-dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang--Mills with fermions, by Dogukan Bakircioglu and Pablo ArrighiView PDFHTML (experimental)TeX Sour

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Disentangling Expressibility, Symmetry Protection, and Hardware Noise in Variational Quantum Simulation of the Two-Flavor Schwinger Modelquantum-computing

Disentangling Expressibility, Symmetry Protection, and Hardware Noise in Variational Quantum Simulation of the Two-Flavor Schwinger Model

--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2609.30496 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 24 Sep 2026] Title:Disentangling Expressibility, Symmetry Protection, and Hardware Noise in Variational Quantum Simulation of the Two-Flavor Schwinger Model Authors:Karthikeya Machiraju, Krishna Sujith, Kaustav Bhowmick View a PDF of the paper titled Disentangling Expressibility, Symmetry Protection, and Hardware Noise in Variational Quantum Simulation of the Two-Flavor Schwinger Model, by Karthikeya Machiraju and 2 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Existing quantum simulations of the two-flavor Schwinger model have run at a single lattice size, and it is not known how far the variational approach can be pushed or which weakness stops it first. Following the model from N = 2 to 6 staggered lattice sites, we find that the binding constraint at reachable sizes is hardware noise rather than circuit expressibility or trainability, and identify N = 3 as the immediately viable extension of existing trapped-ion experiments. The energy error of a charge-conserving ansatz collapses onto one function of p/d, the ratio of variational parameters to physical-sector dimension, and falls by more than two orders of magnitude as p/d rises through order unity, giving the expressibility condition L(4N - 1) >= binom(2N,N) for L circuit layers. The condition is local in chemical potential: at N = 3 the layer count sufficient at zero chemical potential leaves a 74.38% error near the first-order boundary, while one further layer reaches 0.08%. Charge conservation also protects trainability and prevents charge-sector leakage: as the qubit count doubles from 4 to 8, the normalized gradient variance falls to 1/3.56 of its starting value for the constrained ansatz, versus 1/13.57 for an unconstrained circuit. Comparing a global contraction with per-gate local noise, a fixed-parameter control shows that the noise model, not whether the optimizer runs inside the noisy loop, sets how strongly noise degrades the fi

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Topology from disorderquantum-computing

Topology from disorder

Topological phases of matter have long been studied in idealized pure states at absolute zero. Two experiments now show how controlled disorder can give mixed states measurable topological features in quantum simulators. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access through your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Fig. 1: Emergence of topology and topological phase boundaries in disordered quantum simulators. Subjects Quantum simulation Topological matter Ultracold gases Sensory Ethnography in Urban Anthropology ReferencesYue, Z. et al. Nat. Phys. 22, 844–850 (2026).Article  Google Scholar  Su, L. et al. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03381-6 (2026).Article  Google Scholar  Senthil, T. Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 6, 299–324 (2015).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Chen, X., Gu, Z.-C., Liu, Z.-X. & Wen, X.-G. Science 338, 1604–1606 (2012).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Ma, R. & Wang, C. Phys. Rev. X. 13, 031016 (2023). Google Scholar  Preskill, J. Quantum 2, 79 (2018).Article  Google Scholar  Google Quantum AI and Collaborators. Nature 638, 920–926 (2025).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Evered, S. J. et al. Nature 645, 341–347 (2025).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Braun, C. et al. Nat. Phys. 20, 1306–1312 (2024).Article  Google Scholar  Yao, R. et al. Nat. Phys. 20, 1726–1731 (2024).Article  Google Scholar  Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Ph

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Researchers at Nanoarchitectonics Center Guide Quantum Vortices with Atomic Railsquantum-computing

Researchers at Nanoarchitectonics Center Guide Quantum Vortices with Atomic Rails

Image: MANA,NIMS and Art Action Inc · nims.go.jp Researchers at the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), under the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, have directly visualized how atomic steps on an ultrathin superconductor can guide quantum vortices, effectively creating nanoscale “rails” for their movement. The team reports vortices moved more than 1,000 times more easily along these atomic steps compared to across them at intermediate magnetic fields, a dramatic difference in mobility. Takashi Uchihashi explained, “Our study shows that atomic-scale steps can act as effective rails that guide superconducting vortices, and that this guiding effect can be tuned simply by changing the temperature or magnetic field.” Published July 30, 2026, in Physical Review B, these findings demonstrate a new method for controlling vortex motion and heat flow in future superconducting technologies. Atomic Steps Enable Tunable Superconducting Vortex Flow Atomic steps function as directional guides for quantum vortices within ultrathin superconductors, a phenomenon revealed through scanning tunneling microscopy. The imaging directly showed vortices aligning with these steps, demonstrating a physical mechanism for controlling their movement and confirming the steps act as nanoscale “rails” for these quantum objects. This significant difference in mobility suggests a pathway toward more efficient superconducting devices, and the ability to tune vortex flow with external conditions further enhances the potential of this discovery. Between approximately 0.10 and 0.20 Tesla, vortices exhibited unimpeded flow along the steps, a state the researchers describe as one-dimensional pinning-free vortex flow. At lower temperatures, however, quantum tunneling governed vortex motion, demonstrating a shift in the dominant mechanism.

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D-Wave shows both annealing and gate-model quantum systems at Congressquantum-computing

D-Wave shows both annealing and gate-model quantum systems at Congress

D-Wave Quantum Inc. is positioning itself in the growing quantum computing field, showcasing both its annealing and gate-model systems at Quantum World Congress 2026, September 23-25 in College Park, Maryland. The company, listed on Nasdaq as QBTS, will highlight existing customer applications of its annealing technology alongside progress in its dual-rail gate-model architecture, designed to simplify quantum error correction, D-Wave says. “In our view, quantum computing is not a single-architecture race,” says D-Wave chief science officer Robert Schoelkopf, “and it will not be won by qubit counts alone.” Schoelkopf will deliver a plenary address Friday outlining the company’s dual-platform strategy for tackling computationally complex challenges. D-Wave’s Dual-Platform Strategy: Annealing and Gate-Model Systems This architecture focuses on reducing the complexity of quantum error correction, an important step toward enabling applications like quantum chemistry and materials simulation. Executives from D-Wave will participate in multiple discussions, including a plenary address by chief science officer Robert Schoelkopf titled “From Innovation to Utility: The Quantum Era Takes Shape with Two Platforms.” Schoelkopf will detail D-Wave’s annealing and gate-model technologies, asserting the need for both approaches to tackle computationally complex problems. Senior vice president of global government relations and public affairs, Allison Schwartz will join the panel “Quantum You Can See: Real Use Cases, Real Impact,” highlighting practical quantum computing applications improving everyday services. She will also participate in “Quantum Policy from the Inside: How Industry Is Shaping the Federal Agenda,” examining policies and partnerships needed to accelerate quantum adoption and strengthen U.S. leadership. Schwartz will advocate for a strategy supporting long-term research while also accelerating near-term application development, procurement, and deployment. “D-Wave i

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Quantum computer simulates matter “popping into existence” - ScienceDailyquantum-computing

Quantum computer simulates matter “popping into existence” - ScienceDaily

Science News from research organizations Quantum computer simulates matter “popping into existence” Scientists used a quantum computer to simulate particles seemingly “popping into existence,” opening a new window into the physics of the early universe. Date: September 26, 2026 Source: Duke University Summary: Scientists recreated a particle-forming process linked to the extreme physics of the early universe using a 13-ion quantum simulator. The breakthrough suggests quantum computers could eventually help researchers investigate how matter formed and evolved after the Big Bang. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Researchers have observed string-breaking dynamics on a quantum simulator that could help probe questions related to the Big Bang. This is an artistic rendering of string-breaking. Credit: Emily Edwards, Duke University Researchers led by the Duke Quantum Center (DQC) have used a quantum simulator to observe string breaking dynamics connected to particle antiparticle formation, marking one of the earliest demonstrations of its kind in quantum physics. The work, published September 23 in Nature Physics, shows how trapped ion quantum computers could become powerful tools for exploring some of the deepest questions in fundamental physics. The experiment simulated a process known as string breaking, in which two connected building blocks of matter are pulled apart until so much energy accumulates that new particles can effectively "pop into existence" when the connection breaks. "Quantum computer simulations provide the best platform to investigate complex questions like matter formation, short of having witnessed the Big Bang itself," said Christopher Monroe, the Gilhuly Family Presidential Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics at Duke, who led this research. "These findings signal a marked development in the quantum science field and open new avenues for us to understand string-breaking dynamics."

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Roadmap platform launched to help enterprises turn quantum computing into business value - Digital Journalquantum-computing

Roadmap platform launched to help enterprises turn quantum computing into business value - Digital Journal

As quantum computing technology advances at an accelerating pace, many organisations face a growing strategic dilemma. While breakthroughs in hardware regularly make headlines, business leaders often struggle to determine which quantum applications are relevant to their operations, when those applications are likely to become commercially viable, and how to justify investment. To address this challenge, Boston-based Zapata Quantum has introduced Quantum Pilot™, a cloud-based platform designed to help enterprises systematically identify, assess and develop high-value quantum computing applications. The company says the tool provides a structured methodology for translating quantum innovation into practical business outcomes. The launch comes at a time when quantum computing is steadily moving from the realm of academic research towards commercial deployment. Governments, technology companies and investors worldwide have committed substantial resources to the sector, anticipating applications across pharmaceuticals, logistics, finance, materials science and cybersecurity. Yet despite growing interest, uncertainty remains a significant obstacle. A 2022 interview with Zapata’s leadership highlighted that many enterprises were already beginning to incorporate quantum computing into future planning while remaining uncertain about timelines and implementation strategies. According to the company, near-term benefits are likely to emerge through hybrid approaches that combine quantum and classical computing systems rather than relying exclusively on future fault-tolerant quantum machines. Bridging the gap between hardware and business strategy Quantum Pilot is intended to address what Zapata views as a growing disconnect between advances in quantum hardware and organisations’ preparedness to exploit those advances. Rather than focusing on a single quantum computing architecture or hardware provider, the platform continuously analyses developments across the broader quantum e

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Harvard University Builds Atom Array Control at 84 MFPSquantum-computing

Harvard University Builds Atom Array Control at 84 MFPS

Exceeding 84 megaprames per second, a new optical system controls ultracold atoms representing a sharp leap in speed and resolution. Alexander Dennisovich Deters from Harvard University and colleagues developed a dispersive spatial light modulator, a device which shapes light to manipulate the atoms, achieving this record frame rate alongside an intensity resolution of 10-3. This system manipulates ultracold atoms at speeds exceeding eighty-four million frames per second. It precisely controls atom arrangement through dispersive spatial light modulation mapping frequency to position in two dimensions. The capability unlocks advanced quantum simulations and expands research into fundamental physics by enabling complex atom arrangements with minimal disruption. At Harvard University, Alexander Dennisovich Deters and colleagues unveiled an optical system capable of manipulating ultracold atoms with unprecedented speed and precision, exceeding eighty-four million operations per second. The advancement builds upon programmable arrays of these atoms, a leading technology for quantum computing and simulating complex physical systems like those found in materials science. A key challenge lies in controlling many interacting quantum states requiring sophisticated optical design. The team addressed this by developing a dispersive spatial light modulator, essentially a high-speed dimmer switch for laser beams that shapes light to control atom arrangement. Consider modelling traffic flow on a gridlocked city street but directing individual atoms with incredible accuracy. The new device achieves an intensity resolution of 10-3 alongside its record frame rate, enabling Alexander Dennisovich Deters and colleagues to create intricate arrangements of ultracold atoms while minimising unwanted disturbances.

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Quantum computer simulates how stored energy can become new particles - The Brighter Side of Newsquantum-computing

Quantum computer simulates how stored energy can become new particles - The Brighter Side of News

Quantum computer simulates how stored energy can become new particlesTrapped ions recreated charge confinement and showed simulated particle pairs emerging from the edges of an energetic quantum string. Edited By: Shy Cohen/Duke University Writer: Andrew TiePublished Sep 25, 2026 9:07 AM PDTArtistic rendering of string-breaking. A 13-ion quantum simulator reproduced string breaking and revealed an unexpected route to particle-pair formation. (CREDIT: Emily Edwards, Duke University) Share this storyResearchers used a programmable chain of 13 trapped ions to reproduce string-breaking dynamics analogous to the particle-antiparticle creation associated with quark confinement.Instead of the expected uniform production of charge pairs, the experiment revealed an unusual edge-driven mechanism in which pairs formed near the ends of the simulated string and spread inward.The Nature Physics experiment does not simulate full quantum chromodynamics, but it demonstrates how quantum machines could eventually tackle real-time high-energy physics problems that overwhelm classical computers.A string stretched between two confined charges can store so much energy that breaking it becomes cheaper than stretching it farther. When that happens in particle physics, energy can transform into new particle-antiparticle pairs.Researchers have now watched an analogue of that process unfold inside a programmable quantum simulator.A Duke Quantum Center-led team encoded a simplified gauge theory into 13 trapped ions and followed its evolution in real time. The experiment reproduced charge confinement and string-breaking dynamics while revealing an unexpected way that simulated particle pairs can emerge from the string's edges.The work, published in Nature Physics, brings together researchers from Duke University, the University of Maryland, Oxford University, Caltech, Cornell University and KU Leuven.It does not recreate actual quarks or the full theory of the strong nuclear force. Ins

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Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holographyquantum-computing

Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holography

Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holography Application deadline: Monday, February 1, 2027Employer web page: Sun Yat-sen UniversityJob type: PostDocTags: postdocFoundationsentanglementchaoscomplexityholographyOne postdoctoral position is available to work with Associate Professor Zhuo-Yu Xian at the School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China. The research program focuses broadly on connections between quantum information, quantum many-body dynamics, and gravity. Topics of interest include: quantum information and strongly coupled quantum dynamics; quantum chaos, thermalization, complexity, and open quantum systems; holography, quantum gravity, and black hole information. Applicants working in any of these areas or closely related subjects are welcome. Expertise in all of these topics is not required. In particular, applicants with backgrounds in quantum information or quantum many-body theory who are interested in connections to gravity and holography are encouraged to apply; prior experience in gravity is not required. Research projects can be developed together with the successful candidate, with flexibility to pursue independent projects and collaborations. The School of Physics and Astronomy provides an active research environment in theoretical physics and related areas, with research activities in gravity and holography, quantum field theory, quantum information, quantum simulation, and precision measurement, together with links to the TianQin Center. Applicants should have a PhD in theoretical physics or a closely related field by the starting date. The appointment is normally for two years and will follow the postdoctoral scheme of Sun Yat-sen University. Candidates may also be considered for the SYSU “Yat-sen” Postdoctoral Fellow program. Salary and benefits follow the relevant university policies. The starting date is flexible and can be discussed with the successful candidate, with an ear

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Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holography at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, Chinaquantum-computing

Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holography at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China

Postdoctoral Position in Quantum Dynamics and Holography at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China Application deadline: Monday, February 1, 2027Employer web page: Sun Yat-sen UniversityJob type: PostDocTags: postdocFoundationsentanglementchaoscomplexityholographyOne postdoctoral position is available to work with Associate Professor Zhuo-Yu Xian at the School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Zhuhai, China. The research program focuses broadly on connections between quantum information, quantum many-body dynamics, and gravity. Topics of interest include: quantum information and strongly coupled quantum dynamics; quantum chaos, thermalization, complexity, and open quantum systems; holography, quantum gravity, and black hole information. Applicants working in any of these areas or closely related subjects are welcome. Expertise in all of these topics is not required. In particular, applicants with backgrounds in quantum information or quantum many-body theory who are interested in connections to gravity and holography are encouraged to apply; prior experience in gravity is not required. Research projects can be developed together with the successful candidate, with flexibility to pursue independent projects and collaborations. The School of Physics and Astronomy provides an active research environment in theoretical physics and related areas, with research activities in gravity and holography, quantum field theory, quantum information, quantum simulation, and precision measurement, together with links to the TianQin Center. Applicants should have a PhD in theoretical physics or a closely related field by the starting date. The appointment is normally for two years and will follow the postdoctoral scheme of Sun Yat-sen University. Candidates may also be considered for the SYSU “Yat-sen” Postdoctoral Fellow program. Salary and benefits follow the relevant university policies. The starting date is flexible and can be disc

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Fundamental Physics at the Frontier of Noisy Quantum Computationquantum-computing

Fundamental Physics at the Frontier of Noisy Quantum Computation

--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2609.28825 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 23 Sep 2026] Title:Fundamental Physics at the Frontier of Noisy Quantum Computation Authors:Nikita A. Zemlevskiy View a PDF of the paper titled Fundamental Physics at the Frontier of Noisy Quantum Computation, by Nikita A. Zemlevskiy View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Quantum computing offers a new, orthogonal direction for investigating fundamental physics, extending beyond classical numerical methods and conventional observables. Realizing this potential requires directly confronting the noise limiting currently available quantum computers. Progress rests on advancing algorithms, interpreting their results, and managing their errors together. This thesis presents several advancements in the use of quantum simulation and quantum information to probe fundamental physics. The first is in the use of quantum computers to simulate collisions in quantum field theories. Central to these simulations are new wavepacket preparation, time evolution, and error mitigation techniques, which allow for simulations with some of the largest effective circuit volumes to date. These methods enable the first quantum simulation providing numerical evidence for inelastic particle production, a key process in fundamental physics. The second advancement centers on the role quantum-information-theoretic quantities play in physical processes. Beyond mere correlations with the physics of the process, entanglement and magic are shown to probe the interactions present in scattering and hadronization dynamics. A precision study requires a complete quantification of algorithmic and hardware uncertainties, an outstanding goal as quantum simulations mature. The third advancement in this thesis addresses error management. A framework minimizing the effect of algorithmic errors in analog quantum simulations is presented. In a step toward fault tolerance, error detection in encoded quantum simulations is shown to improve estimation of lo

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Quantum field theory dynamics in trapped ionsquantum-computing

Quantum field theory dynamics in trapped ions

Computing the real-time dynamics of quantum field theories is intractable for classical devices. Now, the dynamics of two quantum field theories have been observed using hybrid trapped-ion quantum simulators. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access through your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Fig. 1: Mapping quantum fields to ion crystals. Subjects Quantum information Quantum simulation Density Functional Theory Applications in Molecular and Quantum Systems ReferencesSaner, S. et al. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03400-6 (2026).Article  Google Scholar  Than, A. T. et al. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03402-4 (2026).Cochran, T. A. et al. Nature 642, 315–320 (2025).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  González-Cuadra, D. et al. Nature 642, 321–326 (2025).Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Meth, M. et al. Nat. Phys. 21, 570–576 (2025).Article  Google Scholar  Valahu, C. H. et al. Nat. Chem. 15, 1503–1508 (2023).Article  Google Scholar  Whitlow, J. et al. Nat. Chem. 15, 1509–1514 (2023).Article  Google Scholar  Hou, P.-Y. et al. Nat. Phys. 20, 1636–1641 (2024).Article  Google Scholar  Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsCenter for Quantum Information, IIIS, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaPan-Yu HouHefei National Laboratory, Hefei, ChinaPan-Yu HouAuthorsPan-Yu HouView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Pan-Yu Hou.Ethics

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Universal scaling laws for correlated decay of many-body quantum systemsquantum-computing

Universal scaling laws for correlated decay of many-body quantum systems

MainUnderstanding the quantum dynamics of far-from-equilibrium open many-body systems is a major frontier in physics. From a fundamental perspective, the interplay between energy pumping and dissipation allows for the emergence of phases that transcend the paradigms established by equilibrium statistical physics. Examples in quantum optics include the superradiant laser1,2 and the driven Dicke phase transition3,4,5. From an applied standpoint, the full potential of quantum technologies—including quantum computing, quantum simulation and metrology—is realized only with large systems that remain coherent despite their coupling to a bath.In systems formed by many particles, the always-present vacuum fluctuations mediate long-range dissipative interactions that cannot be switched off, inducing correlated decay that may increase with system size. Such decay processes are collectively enhanced if the particles are tightly packed. Correlated decay may, thus, become the ultimate source of decoherence for many quantum technologies. For instance, it may alter the signal-to-noise ratio in metrology experiments such as atomic clocks or spin squeezing. Similarly, in large-scale quantum computers, it can lead to much shorter coherence times than the predicted timescales using independent noise models and may hinder quantum error correction6,7. On the other hand, correlated decay is a critical requirement for other applications, such as the development of new light sources1,2,8, the dissipative preparation of correlated many-body states9,10 or the protection of logical quantum information via dissipation11,12.Due to the exponential complexity associated with large quantum systems, exactly computing the largest decay rate is a formidable challenge. This problem remains unsolved except in trivial cases, such as permutationally symmetric models (for example, atoms coupled to a cavity) and non-interacting systems. In generic situations, finding the largest decay rate is as difficult a

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A universal speed limit for collective decay in quantum systemsquantum-computing

A universal speed limit for collective decay in quantum systems

Quantum systems composed of many particles can decay much faster than the sum of their individual decay rates. Now, a universal speed limit of many-body decay has been revealed, providing bounds on applications that rely on collective emission and a potential constraint on the scalability of quantum technologies. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access through your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Buy this articlePurchase on SpringerLinkInstant access to the full article PDF.USD 39.95Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Fig. 1: Universal speed limit for collective decay. Subjects Atomic and molecular interactions with photons Quantum information Quantum mechanics ReferencesDicke, R. H. Coherence in Spontaneous Radiation Processes. Phys. Rev. 93, 99–110 (1954). This paper introduced the theory of superradiance.Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Gross, M. & Haroche, S. Superradiance: an essay on the theory of collective spontaneous emission. Phys. Rep. 93, 301–396 (1982). A comprehensive review article on the theoretical description of superradiance.Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Mok, W.-K., Asenjo-Garcia, A., Sum, T. C. & Kwek, L.-C. Dicke superradiance requires interactions beyond nearest neighbors. Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 213605 (2023). This paper shows that superradiance cannot be physically observed in systems with only nearest-neighbour dissipative interactions.Article  ADS  Google Scholar  Bravyi, S., Gosset, D., König, R. & Temme, K. Approximation algorithms for quantum many-body problems. J. Math. Phys. 60, 032203 (2019). This paper develops classical approximation alg

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Florida International University Invests in Quantum Computer - GovTechquantum-computing

Florida International University Invests in Quantum Computer - GovTech

Higher Education Florida International University Invests in Quantum Computer Florida International University has pledged to bring a powerful new quantum computer to campus to support research in environmental sustainability, drug development and security. September 24, 2026 •  News Staff Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Print Email IonQ Chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi, left, and Florida International University Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Béjar hold the signed agreement for FIU to acquire an IonQ Superion 256 quantum computer during a photo opportunity Sept. 23, 2026 at IonQ headquarters in College Park, Md.Photo credit: Taimy Alvarez, Florida International University Florida International University (FIU) is bringing new technology to campus to help prepare for what some are calling the next big technological disruptor: quantum computing.Starting late 2027, students and researchers at FIU will gain access to advanced quantum computing hardware thanks to a new partnership with quantum computing vendor IonQ, the university announced today. According to the news release, the university will receive a new quantum computing system called Superion 256, which the company unveiled earlier this month.According to an earlier news release from IonQ about its Superion computing platform, this new system will allow for lower power consumption and more robust upscaling of quantum computing power in the future. “Quantum computing, like classical computing before it, ultimately scales most powerfully on a semiconductor foundation,” IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi said in a public statement. “Superion 256 is the first quantum computer platform designed to be built by the hundreds rather than one at a time. Every generation that follows will be designed, fabricated and packaged similarly — creating unique upgradeability in our Superion platform.”With this system, FIU aims to accelerate research in three key areas: sustainability, security a

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Truncation uncertainties for accurate quantum simulations of lattice gauge theoriesquantum-computing

Truncation uncertainties for accurate quantum simulations of lattice gauge theories

AbstractThe encoding of lattice gauge theories onto quantum computers requires a discretization of the gauge field's Hilbert space on each link, which presents errors with respect to the Kogut–Susskind limit. In the electric basis, Hilbert space fragmentation has recently been shown to limit the excitation of large electric fields. Here, we leverage this to develop a formalism for estimating the size of truncation errors in the electric basis. Generically, the truncation error falls off as a factorial of the field truncation. Examples of this formalism are applied to the Schwinger model and a pure U(1) lattice gauge theory. For reasonable choices of parameters, we improve on previous error estimates by a factor of $10^{306}$.Popular summaryQuantum computers are expected to simulate the real time dynamics of the theories that describe the strong nuclear force, a task that classical computers cannot perform at scale. To run such a simulation, the gauge fields that carry the force must be stored in a finite number of qubits. However, a gauge field can in principle hold an unbounded amount of electric flux, so only a finite range of field values can be kept. Any prediction made with a truncated simulation carries an error from the field values that were removed, and a simulation with scientific value needs a reliable estimate of the size of this error. Previous estimates were valid but extremely loose, and taking them at face value would require far more qubits than are actually needed. In this work, a method is developed for estimating the truncation error directly. The method is based on a property of the lattice Hamiltonian known as Hilbert space fragmentation. States with large electric fields have a large energy cost, and this energy gap makes it difficult for the dynamics to reach them. Perturbation theory in this gap is used to compute the leading contribution to the error from the truncation. It is shown that the error falls off as a factorial of the truncation,

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Nature’s speed limit for thermalization is rooted in quantum informationquantum-computing

Nature’s speed limit for thermalization is rooted in quantum information

Researchers have established a quantifiable lower bound of τ ≥ τ Pl /2 on how quickly systems can reach thermal equilibrium, proving a long-held conjecture about a fundamental speed limit. The work demonstrates quantum mechanics prevents thermalization faster than half the Planckian timescale, a value determined by the reduced Planck constant, Boltzmann’s constant, and temperature. This universal limit, originally proposed to describe the conductance of superconductors, is now underpinned by quantum information theory and Hamiltonian estimation. These bounds, rooted in fundamental constants and a system’s intrinsic energy scale, establish operational limits on how quickly systems “settle” into a stable state. Planckian Timescale Defines Thermalization Speed The shortest time a system requires to reach thermal equilibrium is fundamentally limited by a value directly proportional to Planck’s constant and inversely proportional to temperature, a relationship now rigorously proven through quantum information theory. This establishes that no system can thermalize faster than a timescale of ℏ /( k B T ), previously a conjecture rooted in observations of chaotic systems and quantum gravity. This universal limit arises from the interplay between quantum information geometry and metrology, offering a new approach to understanding thermalization beyond traditional collisional models. Attempting to accelerate thermalization through arbitrarily fast interactions doesn’t circumvent the Planckian bound; instead, such a process would require preparing a system in a fixed state, effectively bypassing true thermalization. The analysis reveals a lower bound on thermalization time as well; systems cannot thermalize faster than τ Pl /2, meaning half the Planckian timescale represents a concrete, quantifiable limit. This framework also encompasses highly engineered processes, such as algorithms for many-body quantum cooling. Under these assumptions, standard thermal baths satisfying det

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6th International Conference on the History of Quantum Physics (HQ-6)quantum-computing

6th International Conference on the History of Quantum Physics (HQ-6)

Acronym: HQ6Dates: Monday, July 26, 2027 to Friday, July 30, 2027Web page: https://indico.nbi.ku.dk/event/2277/overviewSubmission deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026Tags: Niels Bohr ArchiveUniversity of CopenhagenDenmarkFrom 26 to 30 July 2027, the Niels Bohr Archive in Copenhagen will host the Sixth International Conference on the History of Quantum Physics (HQ-6). This conference series helps reinvigorate the international community of quantum historians and have contributed to a surge of scholarship on the history of quantum physics as well as historical narratives that explore scientific practices and concepts within their rich social, cultural, and political contexts. We invite contributions on the history of quantum physics, broadly construed, including the history of the old quantum theory, quantum mechanics, quantum foundations, quantum technologies, quantum field theory, and subdisciplines of physics and related fields (including but not limited to particle physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, quantum gravity, quantum chemistry, and quantum computation and information). We welcome submissions that approach these topics from a wide range of perspectives. Particular attention will be given to the following themes: - Historical perspectives on the centenary of quantum mechanics; - The genesis of quantum mechanics ca. 1925–1927; - The historical development of quantum theory in different cultural, political and societal contexts. - Theoretical, mathematical, and experimental practices of quantum physics; - Quantum technology, instrumentation, and material cultures of quantum physics; - The circulation of knowledge and appropriations of quantum theory and quantum mechanics in diverse national, institutional, and disciplinary contexts; - Women and gender in the history of quantum physics; - Underrepresented and marginalized groups in the history of quantum physics; - Policy and diplomacy in the history of quantum physics. -

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IonQ Selected as First On-Premise QPU Deployment at NVIDIA’s Accelerated Quantum Research Centerquantum-computing

IonQ Selected as First On-Premise QPU Deployment at NVIDIA’s Accelerated Quantum Research Center

IonQ Selected as First On-Premise QPU Deployment at NVIDIA’s Accelerated Quantum Research Center Trapped-ion quantum hardware developer IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) has announced that its sixth-generation Superion 256 quantum processing unit (QPU) will serve as the first on-premise quantum computer installed at the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC). Scheduled for installation in 2027 alongside first commercial deliveries, the deployment establishes a direct hardware interconnect between IonQ’s 256-qubit system and an NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 accelerated computing rack via NVIDIA NVQLink. Hybrid quantum-classical workloads across the unified system will be orchestrated by the open-source NVIDIA CUDA-Q software platform. The joint research initiative at NVAQC focuses on co-designing tightly integrated quantum-GPU architectures and building open-source hybrid software frameworks. The deployment targets high-impact applications across portfolio optimization and financial risk modeling, data center materials science, and computational chemistry for drug discovery. The announcement follows recent joint research published by IonQ, NVIDIA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Tennessee at IEEE Quantum Week 2026, which demonstrated generative AI coupled with distributed quantum algorithms on CUDA-Q. [ IonQ Superion 256 & NVIDIA NVAQC Hardware Integration ]System LayerHardware & Fabric SpecificationsOperational FunctionalityQuantum Subsystem• IonQ Superion 256 QPU• On-chip Electronic Qubit Control (EQC)• Fabricated via SkyWater CMOS Foundry• 256 Physical Trapped-Ion Qubits• Standard Server-Rack Footprint• Low Power Consumption vs. GPU RacksClassical AI Subsystem• NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 Rack• Liquid-cooled Blackwell Superchip Cluster• Accelerates Classical Subroutines• High-Speed Neural Network Training• Real-time Quantum Error Correction DecodingInterconnect & Stack• NVIDIA NVQLink Physical Interconnect• NVIDIA CUDA-Q Platform Orchestration• Sub-micros

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