Physics and Mathematics. Mathematics gives a boost to quantum computers to solve problems that not even these futuristic machines can yet overcome. In this way, helps to design new materials and molecules of pharmacological interest. The experiment is published in the journal Science Advances and is due to the research group formed by Cristian Micheletti and Francesco Slongo, both from the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste, and Philip Hauke from the University of Trento. Mathematics gives a boost to quantum computers to solve problems that even these futuristic machines cannot yet overcome and, in this way, helps to design new materials and molecules of pharmacological interest. The experiment is published in the journal Science Advances and is due to the research group formed by Cristian Micheletti and Francesco Slongo, both from the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste, Philip Hauke from the University of Trento and Pietro Faccioli from the University of Milan-Bicocca. The development of quantum computers is opening up previously unimaginable prospects, promising to solve problems considered insurmountable for conventional computers. However, their computing capabilities are still relatively limited. For this reason, the Italian research group used a mathematical method to make the most of the characteristics of some quantum computers, called 'quantum annealers'. With this method, called Qubo, an acronym for "Quadratic Unconstraint Binary Optimization", it was possible to simulate in a new way dense mixtures of polymers, i.e. very heavy molecules, important both for new materials and for biology.
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