Electron movement in Polyacetylene modeled in quantum device

[.Scott]

TL;DR Summary

Researchers at the Center of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology have designed, constructed, and are operating a quantum device that models electron motion in a large molecule.

Researchers at the Center of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology released a study published by Nature describing a quantum device that models the motion of electrons in Polyacetylene. The device is not a general purpose quantum processor, but the methods they used are applicable to the modelling of a variety of molecular-level materials and perhaps other applications.

 

[hutchphd]

There used to be these things called "analog computers". Can someone explain the nuance here (other than possible venture capital considerations)?

 

[.Scott]

There used to be these things called "analog computers". Can someone explain the nuance here (other than possible venture capital considerations)?

It is an analog computer. But instead of an electrical or mechanical analog to a classical target system, it is a quantum analog of a quantum target system.