The Big Question
What is the potential of a quantum computing revolution? Three faculty members weigh in.
Scientists began to explain quantum mechanics for the first time a century ago. The discovery of how tiny particles behave and how energy and matter exist in small groups (called quanta) led to technologies like MRI machines, GPS devices, and solar panels. In recognition of that history and the potential for future breakthroughs, such as computers exponentially faster and more powerful than the devices we currently use, the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. With its Quantum Science & Engineering Consortium, BU is bridging departments and bolstering its faculty with a cluster of hires across chemistry, computer science, physics, and engineering—and positioning the University to contribute to the next quantum leaps.
Anushya Chandran
Associate Professor of Physics
“Short answer: we don’t really know, much like we don’t really know how far the current AI revolution will go. We are confident that quantum computers will fundamentally transform our ability to simulate molecules and materials. That could supercharge the engineering of designer materials or biomedical products. We also know that certain kinds of cryptography, which the internet currently relies on, can be broken with a quantum computer. That means we need new cryptographic approaches, some of which could also be provided by quantum computers.
In the near term, however, there are many experimental challenges, for which new technology is needed. These could be important in their own right. For example, the search for better quantum bits 20 years ago led to the development of what are now cutting-edge quantum sensing technologies.”
Alexander Poremba
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
“Quantum technologies open entirely new avenues for probing the physical world—from conducting laboratory experiments with quantum sensors that achieve unprecedented accuracy to large-scale simulations and information processing on actual quantum machines.
The ability to simulate and to observe complex quantum systems, in particular, holds enormous promise: It would allow us to better understand inherently quantum phenomena, such as the spread of quantum entanglement, or how chaotic quantum systems evolve in time and scramble information. These insights could not only accelerate the discovery of exotic materials but also shed new light on fundamental physics and the mysteries of quantum gravity.
Even simple quantum processes can display surprising amounts of complexity. With next-generation quantum hardware, we will soon be able to implement toy models to closely examine such behavior, providing valuable information about the nature of chaos in quantum systems and the resources required to simulate them. For now, however, we will have to stick to pen and paper.”
Anders W. Sandvik
Professor of Physics
“According to some industry leaders, quantum computing is approaching an inflection point, realizing the promise to solve relevant problems beyond the reach of classical computers. I agree with this, though it is still too early to say with certainty exactly what classes of problems will be more efficiently solved this way within, say, 10 years. Physicists are heavily involved not just in developing quantum computers, but also in thinking about what to use them for. An interesting aspect in this regard is that quantum computers, and other devices that are more akin to ‘quantum simulators’ with more limited but unique capabilities, can also be seen as entirely new forms of ‘artificial quantum matter’ when they become sufficiently large in scale. We therefore do not have to limit ourselves to solving known challenging problems but can think more broadly about how to use these devices to create new quantum phenomena beyond what nature has offered us so far. I expect that many applications of quantum computing and quantum simulation will result from this kind of work with novel technologies.”