The strong nuclear force is what holds atomic nuclei together, and our current mathematical understanding of it has led to remarkable insights into the nature of matter. Still, certain questions – such as the matter composition of the very early universe – have eluded physicists’ best efforts, and computer simulations of these regimes are intrinsically limited even with the largest conceivable classical machines.
In light of these limitations, some physicists have turned to quantum computers, hoping that their capabilities are a better match for the requirements of the simulations. A joint team from the University of Waterloo and York University, both in Canada, has now made headway toward this goal by simulating the interactions between matter particles using a class of quantum algorithms known as variational algorithms. The work could make it possible to study the behaviour of nuclei in the aftermath of the Big Bang and in astrophysical objects such as neutron stars – systems that are inaccessible on classical computers.
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