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6d ago

University of Sydney Achieves First Real-Time Quantum Simulation of Molecular Light Reactions

Researchers use a single trapped-ion quantum computer to model ultrafast chemical dynamics, opening doors to breakthroughs in medicine, energy, and materials science.

Inside the trapped-ion quantum computer at the University of Sydney Nano Institute.
Previously, quantum computers could mainly calculate unchanging aspects of molecules, like their energy levels. (Representational image)
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Overview

  • For the first time, scientists have simulated the real-time chemical dynamics of molecules interacting with light using quantum computing.
  • The study employs a single trapped-ion analog quantum computer, achieving a million-fold hardware efficiency compared to traditional digital quantum methods.
  • This breakthrough captures ultrafast electronic and vibrational changes in molecules, processes classical computers struggle to model effectively.
  • Applications include advancing cancer therapies, designing better sunscreens, understanding UV-induced DNA damage, and improving solar energy technology.
  • The findings, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, demonstrate the potential for scaling quantum simulations to tackle more complex, classically intractable chemical systems.