Wednesday October 14th 2026
University of Edinburgh (photo by Jacob Pretorius)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed new software that could help scientists build bigger and more reliable quantum computers.
The team has created an algorithm that allows standard computers to run complex quantum simulations that previously required some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.
According to the researchers, the software can carry out these simulations using around five per cent of the computing power previously needed.
The breakthrough could make experiments cheaper and more accessible, helping scientists better understand the limitations of existing quantum computers and design improved devices.
Quantum computers have the potential to perform calculations beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced conventional supercomputers. However, current devices remain relatively small and prone to errors, limiting their performance.
Scientists use simulations to investigate how quantum computers might behave in real-world conditions. Until now, these calculations have demanded enormous amounts of computing power, available at only a handful of facilities worldwide.
The new algorithm was developed by a team led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and EPCC, the UK’s first National Supercomputing Centre, which is part of the university.
It enables conventional computers to run a type of simulation known as Gaussian boson sampling for the first time using this approach.
The technique is designed to demonstrate the potential of photonic quantum computers, which use particles of light to process information.
During testing, the researchers found that conventional computers using the algorithm could match and, in some cases, outperform existing quantum devices at running the simulations.
The team is now working to scale up the technology, with the aim of running much larger simulations without increasing the computing power required.
This could allow scientists to model photonic quantum computers in greater detail and help inform the development of future devices.
Dr Raul Garcia-Patron Sanchez, from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics, led the research.
He said: “Classical simulation of large-scale quantum computing circuits has been achieved so far via a combination of clever algorithms and the intensive use of supercomputing facilities.
“Our work has contributed significant improvements in memory use, running time and energy costs in the simulation of photonic quantum computing devices, making mainstream what was before only accessible to a handful of facilities in the world.”
The research was published in the journal Science Advances and also involved scientists from Polytechnique Montréal in Canada.
It received support from the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
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