Pasqal’s 256-Qubit Simulation Guides Quantum Material Study at CERN

From July 10-12, 2026, students and researchers convened at CERN’s IdeaSquare for the Quantum Materials Hackathon, tackling an ambitious goal for a short-form competition: creating a “Quantum Twin of a real material.” Pasqal supported the event by providing cloud access, dedicated training on its software, and on-site mentorship, enabling participants to explore quantum simulation with a practical scientific question. The hackathon focused on TmMgGaO₄, a frustrated magnetic material, and utilized Pasqal’s recent demonstration of a one-to-one quantum simulation with 256 qubits as an example of its work. “We framed the exercise in two steps,” explains Tiago Mendes Santos, Senior Quantum Algorithm Developer at Pasqal, who shaped the challenge; the hackathon aimed to demonstrate how quantum simulation can explore real questions in materials science.

Quantum Materials Challenge: TmMgGaO₄ Simulation at CERN

The event, organized by the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) at CERN, aimed to determine if programmable quantum devices could enhance understanding of this challenging material, a pursuit driven by the potential for quantum computers to outperform classical methods in simulating quantum-mechanical systems. Pasqal supported the hackathon as a challenge partner, offering dedicated training on its software stack, Pulser, and providing on-site mentorship throughout the three-day event. This groundwork allowed the team to then tackle the core challenge: mapping TmMgGaO₄ onto a triangular array and reproducing its magnetization across its antiferromagnetic phase transition, using a simulation approach that has been used to connect neutral-atom processors with material-specific physics. The choice of TmMgGaO₄ was deliberate, as frustrated magnetic materials exhibit unusual collective behavior due to competing interactions, making them a key area of research in condensed-matter physics.

This was not merely a coding exercise, but a focused attempt to apply quantum simulation to a genuine scientific problem. Yacine Haddad, Quantum Computing Advisor at the OQI and the CERN Quantum Technology Initiative (QTI), highlighted the alignment with OQI’s goals: “Materials simulation is exactly the kind of use case that OQI wants to explore; it is rooted in real-world science, and it also offers a credible path toward applications with potential societal relevance over the longer term.” The hackathon’s focus on materials science also connects to broader sustainability goals, particularly in areas like energy, climate, and resource efficiency. Participants, despite having limited prior experience with neutral-atom quantum computing or the intricacies of frustrated magnets, rapidly adapted and made significant progress. Over the course of the event, the team completed the majority of the challenge, writing code for both phases of the simulation.

Vincent Martin, Technical Sales Manager at Pasqal, and Tiago Mendes Santos provided crucial on-site support, assisting with debugging and connecting the code to the underlying physics. The team’s success prompted enthusiastic feedback; one participant noted that the challenge was “really enjoyable and stimulated teamwork, computational skills and physical understanding. We have definitely learnt a lot from it and would love to keep in touch regarding Pasqal’s aims and objectives in the near future.” Another added, “This hackathon was an amazing experience and having the opportunity to work with you all was very enriching. I learned a ton and had a great time throughout the whole challenge.” The event underscored the value of hands-on learning and the potential for hackathons to cultivate the next generation of quantum computing talent, with Pasqal supporting this future through training and mentorship.

Pasqal Support: Cloud Access and Pulser Training

Central to Pasqal’s support was providing direct access to its cloud infrastructure, enabling the team to iterate quickly on simulations and test ideas without the delays inherent in local hardware setups. This cloud access was coupled with pre-hackathon training via Quantum Quest, Pasqal’s e-learning platform, and a focused, hands-on course on Pulser, Pasqal’s open-source framework for programming neutral-atom quantum devices. The intention, as explained by Pasqal representatives, was not merely to introduce the tools, but to establish a functional simulation workflow participants could confidently utilize throughout the competition. This proactive approach addressed a key barrier to entry for many attendees, accelerating their learning curve and maximizing their contribution to the challenge. This gave them a hands-on introduction to the workflow and to Pulser, without requiring them to start from a highly specialized materials problem.

Pasqal supported the Quantum Materials Hackathon 2026 hosted at CERN’s IdeaSquare from July 10-12. Tiago Mendes Santos shared, “First, the students reproduced a familiar benchmark: preparing an antiferromagnetic state on a square array of atoms.” They wrote most of the code required for both phases, demonstrating a rapid learning curve facilitated by the combined training and mentorship.

The promise of quantum computing extends beyond theoretical speedups; a growing focus lies in applying these nascent machines to pressing scientific challenges. This focus on a specific, physically relevant system distinguishes the event from more abstract quantum computing exercises. Pasqal supported the hackathon as a challenge partner, going beyond simply providing cloud access and offering dedicated training on its software stack. Throughout the hackathon, participants were guided through a two-phase challenge. The choice of TmMgGaO₄ wasn’t arbitrary; frustrated magnetic materials present unique challenges and opportunities for quantum simulation. Despite having no prior experience with the technology, the hackathon participants demonstrated a remarkable ability to learn and adapt, completing most of the coding required for both phases.