Researchers develop advanced programmable quantum simulator

A team of US and Austrian researchers have developed a special type of quantum computer – a programmable quantum simulator that can operate with 64 to 256 qubits. Some of the key characteristics of the system are its size and programmability, which enables it to harness the properties of matter at extremely small scales and to advance processing power. The system’s ability to operate with 256 qubits also allows it to store and process exponentially more information than classical computers. The achievement is seen as paving the way ‘for investigations of exotic quantum phases, non-equilibrium entanglement dynamics and hardware-efficient realisation of quantum algorithms’.