As the scientific community eagerly anticipates larger and more powerful quantum computers, IBM and a group of researchers attempted to prove that these systems are already operational today. They succeeded. A preprint paper uploaded to the arXiv platform on Wednesday shows that scientists from IBM, two national laboratories, and three universities have successfully used a quantum computer to simulate a process that is imperceptible to the naked eye but has applications in materials science. Researchers used neutron scattering (a technique that allows a neutron beam to penetrate a sample) to measure the properties of a magnetic crystal and directly compared the results with simulations run on an IBM quantum computer. Ultimately, the quantum processor successfully demonstrated the expected behavior of the crystal. If this description seems a bit complex, consider the researchers' own interpretation: Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist Alan Shay stated that this achievement "raises the bar for expectations regarding the capabilities of quantum computers." (Left: Results of a neutron scattering experiment; Right: Results of a quantum computer simulation from IBM.) Image source: [Image URL: https://img.jinse.com.cn/7443907_image3.png] Quantum-level materials systems are extremely complex, often proving difficult for traditional computers to model. Quantum computers have successfully accomplished this task, signifying that such systems are becoming powerful enough to aid in the development of new materials. This also indirectly confirms the promising application prospects of quantum technology in materials science—a discipline that underpins almost all modern inventions, from medical devices and semiconductors to batteries. The application scenarios for quantum computing are gradually becoming clearer. Earlier this month, IBM released a data center blueprint outlining plans to integrate quantum computers with existing GPUs and CPUs. Beyond materials science, this technology will also have a profound impact on the financial and pharmaceutical industries. Some industry optimists believe it can significantly reduce energy consumption for high-performance computing tasks. Currently, industry experts and investors in the quantum field have lowered their expectations. Before quantum computers achieve widespread commercialization, they cannot be considered truly "usable." To do so, large-scale scaling is essential. Despite this, the capability demonstrated by IBM in its latest experiment was originally expected to be realized only with the advent of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers—machines that can continue to function even if individual components fail or are interfered with. Just as traditional computers encode basic information using bits, quantum computers rely on qubits. However, there is a key difference: qubits are typically generated by manipulating and measuring particles such as photons, electrons, or trapped ions. Unlike traditional bits, qubits are extremely sensitive to environmental changes—anything from heat to electromagnetic interference can disrupt their fragile quantum states, causing computer malfunctions. IBM aims to deliver its first fault-tolerant quantum supercomputer, codenamed "Starling," in 2029, with a projected processing power 20,000 times that of current quantum computers. The next three years may—and inevitably will—see many changes. IBM's latest experiment is just the beginning.
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