Australian scientists have utilized quantum computing technology to witness something that is typically too rapid for the human eye to see. Quantum computers are capable of performing computations that are well beyond the capabilities of ordinary computers. To observe the true nature of a typical chemical reaction, scientists were able to slow down a molecular contact by 100 billion times.
Studying the microscopic world of atoms and molecules is extremely difficult due to the fact that everything moves much faster than our eyes can process, in addition to the fact that everything is so little. For example, chemical bonds can form and break in femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second. This makes it challenging to comprehend the specifics of a few crucial operations.
In the current work, scientists at the University of Sydney slowed down one of these incredibly quick processes using a quantum computer. They saw what happens to a single atom in chemical reactions such as photosynthesis when it comes into contact with a conical junction, a common geometric form. For decades, scientists have been attempting to directly examine these processes.
By mapping the problem onto a relatively tiny quantum device with a trapped-ion quantum computer, the team was able to slow down the process by an astounding 100 billion times. That reduced it to the kinds of speeds that can be observed and measured by current equipment.
In nature, the entire process concludes in femtoseconds, according to research co-lead author Vanessa Olaya Agudelo. We developed a technology that enables us to slow down chemical dynamics from femtoseconds to milliseconds using our quantum computer. We were able to obtain insightful measurements and observations as a result. This is a first of its kind.
Despite the fact that it may sound like a simple simulation, the team claims that it’s more akin to a controlled experiment—that is, an aviation airflow dynamics observation wind tunnel.
Dr. Christophe Valahu, a co-lead author of the study, stated, “Our experiment wasn’t a digital approximation of the process – this was a direct analog observation of the quantum dynamics unfolding at a speed we could observe.”
These kinds of experiments using quantum computers may help researchers gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic realm of molecular interactions, which may lead to advancements in a variety of sectors.
Olaya Agudelo stated, “We can open up a new world of possibilities in materials science, drug design, or solar energy harvesting by understanding these fundamental processes inside and between molecules.” Additionally, it might enhance other procedures that depend on molecules interacting with light, such the formation of smog or the deterioration of the ozone layer.
