An ordinary laptop solved a problem thought to require a quantum computer
Researchers at the Flatiron Institute have developed a method to solve complex quantum physics problems using standard personal computers. By optimizing calculations for interacting qubits, they demonstrated that classical hardware can handle tasks previously thought to require quantum computers.
Why it matters
This breakthrough challenges the assumption that quantum computers are strictly necessary for all complex quantum simulations, potentially accelerating research in materials science and optimization.
Physicists have used an ordinary computer, advanced mathematics, and specialized software to solve a difficult quantum physics problem that had been described as beyond the reach of classical machines.
The work was carried out by researchers at the Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ) at the Simons Foundation's Flatiron Institute, together with collaborators at Boston University. Their method proved efficient enough for some of the calculations to run on a personal laptop.
By extracting more computing power from conventional hardware, the approach could expand the range of quantum dynamics problems scientists can study. It may also offer a useful strategy for optimization problems in which researchers must identify the best answer among many possible solutions.
The findings were published in the journal Science .
Simulating Hundreds of Interacting Qubits
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