Columbia to Lead Effort to Build a Quantum Simulator

(Columbia.edu) A multidisciplinary research team led by Columbia University is in a position to bring quantum technology out of the lab into real-world applications. The team has received a $1 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator award to build a quantum simulator, a device that can solve problems that are difficult to simulate on classical computers. The project includes physicists, engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, and educators from academia, national labs, and industry.
“This funding will enable us to develop the concept for a quantum simulator that can help tackle real-world challenges,” said Sebastian Will, assistant professor of physics at Columbia and principal investigator on the project. “For this we brought a diverse team together that includes experts in atomic physics, photonics, electronics, and software, as well as future users of the platform.”
Columbia is one of 11 institutions nationwide to receive a Phase One Convergence Accelerator award for quantum technology. These awards support the National Quantum Initiative Act passed in 2018 to accelerate the development of quantum science and information technology applications.