Trapped-ion quantum computer does chemistry calculations for the first time
By 
Philip Ball2018-07-24T15:11:00
For an accurate quantum simulation, all you need is a few atoms
A quantum computer that can calculate the energy states of small molecules H2 and lithium hydride using just four trapped ions has been developed by an international team of researchers.
The work ‘is a significant achievement in showing how to use the trapped-ion system for simulating molecular systems’, says Kihwan Kim of Tsinghua University in China, who was not directly involved but is also working on this approach to quantum chemistry.