In a study published in PRX Quantum, scientists developed scalable quantum circuits for the beginning state of a collision similar to those seen in particle accelerators.
An artist’s impression of a quantum electrodynamics simulation using 100 qubits of an IBM quantum computer. The spheres and lines denote the qubits and connectivity of the IBM quantum processor; gold spheres denote the qubits used in the simulation. Image Credit: Roland Farrell, Marc Illa, Anthony Ciavarella, and Martin J. Savage
Simulating matter in harsh environments is crucial for addressing fundamental concerns about nature. The Standard Model of particle physics contains a series of equations that can help explain these difficulties. However, in scenarios requiring dynamics or high densities, even the most powerful classical supercomputers struggle to solve or simulate the Standard Model equations.
Quantum computing has the ability to effectively simulate these systems. However, a key challenge is figuring out how to efficiently set up the initial state of these simulations on a quantum computer's qubits.
The test is based on the Standard Model's strong interactions. The researchers first used classical computers to design these circuits for modest systems. Next, they used the scalability of quantum circuits to create a simulation of massive systems on a quantum computer. They successfully used the technology to mimic basic parts of nuclear physics using IBM quantum computers with over 100 qubits.
The Impact
Scalable quantum algorithms offer a road ahead for complex simulations. This method can be used to prepare the vacuum before a particle collision, as well as in systems with extremely high densities and hadron beams. Researchers predict that future quantum simulations employing these scalable circuits will outperform traditional computing.
These simulations will reveal information on the mechanisms that control the behavior of fundamental particles and our universe. They may assist in explaining why there is more matter than antimatter, how supernovae make heavy elements, and the properties of matter at ultra-high densities. These quantum circuits should also be useful for simulating other complex systems, such as unusual materials.
Summary
Nuclear physicists used IBM quantum computers to run the largest digital quantum simulation to date. Symmetries and hierarchical length scales in physical systems have played a key role in discovering scalable quantum circuits that generate states with localized correlations on a quantum computer. The researchers demonstrated the applicability of this technique by constructing the vacuum and hadrons of quantum electrodynamics in a single spatial dimension.
The team ran simulations on classical computers for small systems to determine the scalable quantum circuit elements and show that the states can be systematically improved. The researchers increased the system size of the circuits to more than 100 qubits before implementing them on IBM’s quantum computers.
They used the quantum computer’s results to determine vacuum properties with percent-level accuracy. Furthermore, they used scalable circuits to generate hadron pulses that were time-evolved to study their propagation. These advancements offer a viable path toward performing dynamical simulations of matter in extreme situations that are beyond the capabilities of classical computing alone.
Funding
This study was partially funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, InQubator for Quantum Simulation (IQuS) through the Quantum Horizons: QIS Research and Innovation for Nuclear Science Initiative; and the Quantum Science Center (QSC), a DOE and University of Washington National Quantum Information Science Research Center.
This study made use of resources from the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility. The Hyak supercomputer system at the University of Washington provided superior computational, storage, and networking infrastructure, which aided in the completion of the study. The researchers acknowledge the usage of IBM Quantum services in this study.
Journal References:
Farrell, R. C., et. al. (2025) Scalable Circuits for Preparing Ground States on Digital Quantum Computers: The Schwinger Model Vacuum on 100 Qubits. PRX Quantum. doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.5.020315
Farrell, R. C., et. al. (2025) Quantum simulations of hadron dynamics in the Schwinger model using 112 qubits. Physical Review D. doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.109.114510