Scientists at Google have revealed a new method of “quantum simulation” that uses computing power to mimic the behavior of a powerful quantum system. This approach, they argue, could lead to quantum computers that can overtake supercomputers within five years and lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery and battery development. Quantum simulation is a process in which computers simulate physical processes and large quantum systems, such as complex molecules. Essentially, engineers simulate physical processes that are dominated by the effects of quantum physics. But this is difficult to do with classical computers because you have to model every particle’s interaction with every other particle. Because subatomic particles have a probability of being in multiple states at once and can be entangled with each other, the complexity of these calculations skyrockets quickly as you scale the number of particles involved. Instead, scientists are turning to quantum computers, whose behavior is already governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, to solve the problems.

Full report : By combining digital and analog quantum simulation into a new hybrid approach, scientists have already started to make fresh scientific discoveries using quantum computers.