Quantum Simulators: Architectures and Opportunities

Abstract

Quantum simulators are a promising technology on the spectrum of quantum\ndevices from specialized quantum experiments to universal quantum computers.\nThese quantum devices utilize entanglement and many-particle behaviors to\nexplore and solve hard scientific, engineering, and computational problems.\nRapid development over the last two decades has produced more than 300 quantum\nsimulators in operation worldwide using a wide variety of experimental\nplatforms. Recent advances in several physical architectures promise a golden\nage of quantum simulators ranging from highly optimized special purpose\nsimulators to flexible programmable devices. These developments have enabled a\nconvergence of ideas drawn from fundamental physics, computer science, and\ndevice engineering. They have strong potential to address problems of societal\nimportance, ranging from understanding vital chemical processes, to enabling\nthe design of new materials with enhanced performance, to solving complex\ncomputational problems. It is the position of the community, as represented by\nparticipants of the NSF workshop on "Programmable Quantum Simulators," that\ninvestment in a national quantum simulator program is a high priority in order\nto accelerate the progress in this field and to result in the first practical\napplications of quantum machines. Such a program should address two areas of\nemphasis: (1) support for creating quantum simulator prototypes usable by the\nbroader scientific community, complementary to the present universal quantum\ncomputer effort in industry; and (2) support for fundamental research carried\nout by a blend of multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary collaborations with\nresources for quantum simulator software, hardware, and education.\n