Quantum Advantage in Quantitative Quantum Simulation

There has been rapid progress in recent years in exploring the possibility to use microscopic systems as quantum computers, to process information and solve computational challenges that are intractable even on the largest conventional supercomputers. While there has been a lot of progress in developing quantum computing, and even demonstrations claiming quantum primacy (where quantum systems outperform conventional computers on problems designed to test the specific quantum hardware), there are major open questions as to when we will first achieve a practical quantum advantage. This would mean obtaining solutions faster or that are novel compared to what is possible with a conventional computer, for problems of interest to science or industry (beyond simply testing the quantum hardware).
While many systems under development are digital quantum computing devices, there is a growing class of analogue quantum simulators, which are highly controlled devices that can be used to implement and study models of other quantum systems. These are somewhat more analogous to analogue computers, or to devices in which we build scale models of dynamics such as wind and water tunnels. Like their analogue classical computing predecessors, these are likely to have impact for a restricted class of problems before we have large-scale digital quantum computers - and like wind and water tunnels they are likely to outperform digital quantum computers for specific tasks.

In this Programme Grant, we aim to make a major step-change in the development of these devices, by demonstrating and then using a verified quantum advantage over any known classical device for specific classes of quantum dynamics. Our experimental programme is based on the most advanced platforms for analogue quantum simulation, specifically over 150 neutral atoms controlled by configurable arrays of laser light. We have three distinct platforms across our experimental teams, in which we will first demonstrate and verify operation in regimes of practical quantum advantage. In a close collaboration between experimental and theoretical researchers who set a roadmap for development of these platforms, we will explore and expand potential application areas. These will range from solid-state physics and material science, to using analogue quantum simulators as a testbed to develop next generations of quantum technologies, especially for measurement and sensing.

Our overall vision is to make a transformative contribution to making these quantum simulation platforms useful beyond basic science, through development of the technologies and identification and prototyping of new application areas.