Quantum computing advances fusion energy research

Scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Cleveland Clinic, and IBM have achieved a first-of-its-kind quantum computing milestone by using quantum-centric computing to calculate the molecular behaviour of a material linked to future fusion energy production.

The team combined quantum processors with classical supercomputers to study how FLiBe, a molten salt considered a promising material for fusion reactors, interacts with tritium at the atomic level. The work could help address one of fusion energy’s biggest challenges: producing and extracting enough tritium to support commercial-scale fusion power.

The research also demonstrates how quantum computing, AI, and high-performance computing can complement one another to solve scientific problems beyond the reach of conventional computing alone. Researchers now aim to scale the approach, improve its efficiency and support the design of advanced materials for future fusion systems.

The breakthrough forms part of the US Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, which seeks to combine emerging computing technologies with scientific research infrastructure to accelerate discoveries in areas such as clean energy.

Why does it matter?

Fusion energy has long been viewed as a potential source of abundant, low-carbon power, but challenges such as reliable tritium production remain major obstacles to commercial deployment. Advances in modelling materials like FLiBe could help overcome one of the key technical barriers to practical fusion reactors.

The research also highlights the growing role of hybrid computing, combining quantum computing, AI and high-performance computing, in accelerating scientific discovery. As quantum hardware matures, this approach could shorten development cycles for advanced materials, energy technologies and other complex scientific applications.

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