Qunova's Quantum Method Matches Top Classical Accuracy on Iron-Sulfur Cluster

At a glance

Qunova Computing said its HI-VQE algorithm simulated an iron-sulfur cluster with 80 qubits. The result fell within chemical accuracy of the leading classical method.

Key points

1. 1

   The calculation ran on an IBM quantum computer and RIKEN's Fugaku supercomputer.

2. 2

   The estimated ground-state energy matched the classical DMRG benchmark within chemical accuracy.

3. 3

   In an intermediate step, the method used about 300 times fewer Fugaku node-hours than a previously published quantum approach.

Why it matters

It suggests quantum computers are starting to match the best classical methods on real chemistry and materials problems, which matters to industries that design molecules.

Also reported by

• Quantum Computing ReportQunova Computing Achieves Chemical Accuracy at 80 Qubits on Iron-Sulfur Cluster Using IBM Quantum System Two and Fugaku