Applications

Aim: To develop novel applications of near-term quantum hardware and assess and identify the most promising emerging protocols and algorithms.

Hub researchers at UCL, Bristol, and Imperial are developing quantum algorithms designed to outperform their classical counterparts, to be run on quantum computers in the very near future.

Their work includes a demonstration of a hybrid quantum energy minimization algorithm, running on various hardware platforms, for industry relevant processes including nitrogen fixing. Researchers have also developed an algorithm for optimizing the probability for chemical reactions using photonic simulators. 

Example applications under investigation

Simulation of exciton dynamics - Imperial College London

 

• How can efficiency be improved?
• Energy transfer is a key process

• Believed to be a coherent process with an important role played by 􏰃􏰦􏰗􏰑􏰈􏰍􏰆exciton dynamics􏰇􏰛􏰆􏰊􏰓􏰑􏰗􏰏 with interaction with uncontrolled vibrational modes

There are two quantum simulation approaches:

• Digital (qubit based)

  • Bulk-heterojunction transport at interfacial layer

  • Simulate quantum origin of observed ultra-fast and coherent processes

• Analogue (photonic based)

  • Map wave-guide structure to physical systems

  • Excellent control over noise characteristics

Optimising dissociation pathways by simulating vibrational energy - University of Bristol

• Build models of disassociation pathways (potential energy surfaces)

• Exploit hybrid quantum / classical Machine Learning Algorithms

• Build models of disassociation pathways (potential energy surfaces)

• Exploit hybrid quantum / classical Machine Learning Algorithms

Benchmarking the feasibility of QC applications - UCL