Quantum Simulation Models Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry with IonQ Computer

IonQ, a commercial quantum computing company, and the University of Washington have jointly simulated neutrinoless double-beta decay, a process potentially linked to the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. Using IonQ’s Forte Enterprise system with 32 qubits, researchers observed, for the first time on a quantum computer, a violation of lepton number, a principle within the Standard Model of particle physics. This simulation, conducted on yocto-second timescales, models nuclear dynamics beyond the capabilities of classical computers and represents a step towards understanding why matter predominates over antimatter, with findings detailed in a paper available at https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.05757.

Simulation of Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Achieved

Researchers successfully simulated neutrinoless double-beta decay, a process potentially linked to the observed imbalance between matter and antimatter in the universe. This simulation, executed on IonQ’s Forte Enterprise quantum computing system, marks the first instance of this phenomenon being modelled using a quantum computer. Observed lepton-number violation, a key indicator in theories attempting to explain the dominance of matter over antimatter, was also recorded.

The experiment utilised IonQ’s trapped-ion architecture, benefitting from all-to-all qubit connectivity and native gate operations. A co-designed approach, developed in collaboration with the University of Washington’s InQubator for Quantum Simulation (IQuS), efficiently mapped the problem onto the 32-qubit system, dedicating an additional four qubits to error mitigation. The simulation involved 2,356 two-qubit gates, enabling high-precision observations of nuclear dynamics occurring on timescales of yoctoseconds.

This level of temporal resolution surpasses that of previous femtosecond imaging techniques, allowing for the investigation of quark and gluon rearrangements within the nucleus during the decay process. Researchers validated the application of quantum computing to nuclear and particle physics, opening avenues for exploring other symmetry-breaking phenomena and deepening our understanding of fundamental interactions.

The findings are available as a pre-print publication, detailing the methodology and results of the simulation. This work demonstrates the potential of quantum computing to model complex physical processes beyond the reach of classical systems and reinforces IonQ’s commitment to developing high-performance quantum systems for scientific discovery. Future work will expand these techniques as hardware capabilities improve, potentially advancing fundamental physics research and providing insights into the origins of matter-antimatter asymmetry.