March 15, 2025 report
D-Wave claims its quantum computers can solve a problem of scientific relevance much faster than classical methods
A team of quantum computer researchers at quantum computer maker D-Wave, working with an international team of physicists and engineers, is claiming that its latest quantum processor has been used to run a quantum simulation faster than could be done with a classical computer.
In their paper in the journal Science, the group describes how they ran a quantum version of a mathematical approximation regarding how matter behaves when it changes states, such as from a gas to a liquid—in a way that they claim would be nearly impossible to conduct on a traditional computer.
Over the past several years, D-Wave has been working on developing quantum annealers, which are a subtype of quantum computer created to solve very specific types of problems. Notably, landmark claims made by researchers at the company have at times been met with skepticism by others in the field.
In this new effort, the research team built a quantum computer using an annealing processor, which is typically used to solve a single type of problem. They used the processor to simulate quantum dynamics properties of spin glasses (magnetized disordered arrays of simulated objects). The result was the solving of simulations that could be used to describe certain magnetic materials. Solving such problems in the past has aided in designing new metals, which the team notes means their work has true scientific relevance.
The work by the team was on the arXiv preprint server last year, giving others the opportunity to review their claims, which led to two teams suggesting that much of what the team accomplished could in fact be done on a classical computer.
The first, led by Dries Sels at New York University, posted on the arXiv preprint server describing how they conducted similar simulations on a laptop in just two hours. The second team, led by Linda Mauron and Giuseppe Carleo at EPFL in Switzerland, also posted on arXiv, suggesting that such simulations could be done in another way, also on an ordinary computer.
In response, the team at D-Wave ran larger simulations using more qubits, and will reportedly be posting their results in a future paper. They conclude by suggesting that they hope their work will inspire other researchers to discover novel quantum techniques for solving relevant problems.
More information: Andrew D. King et al, Beyond-classical computation in quantum simulation, Science (2025).
© 2025 Science X Network
