Quantum computation has the potential to exponentially accelerate computational efficiency compared to conventional classical computation by using the superposition of quantum states. If this is realized, it will lead to the solution of long-standing problems in basic science and in social applications that are difficult to solve even using world-class supercomputers such as Fugaku. RIKEN Quantum promotes interdisciplinary research across RIKEN by utilizing actual quantum computers and quantum simulators, with physics, chemistry, life science, and humanities as the vertical threads and the development of quantum computational algorithms and quantum simulators as the horizontal threads. RIKEN Quantum is an internationally unique platform where researchers from different fields come together to promote quantum computational science in an integrated manner.
Physics
The Physics Team makes full use of the quantum computational algorithms accumulated so far to solve problems in particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and condensed matter physics. In particular, the team aims to clarify how the ground state, excited states, time evolution and thermodynamics of quantum many-body systems can be approached in areas unreachable by classical computation, and to gain new knowledge that cannot be obtained by classical computation.
Chemistry
The Chemistry Team develops fundamental technologies for the full-scale use of quantum computers in chemistry. In particular, the team will develop an electron correlation embedding method based on quantum/classical hybrid computation and an accurate first-principles many-body computation method taking into account hetero-particle correlations. Furthermore, the team will explore the potential of quantum computing in protein structure prediction, bridging physics and life sciences.
Life Science
In the Life Sciences Team, pioneering research will be pursued, such as the development of brain-type quantum computing technology and technology for high-speed analysis of large-scale medical data using quantum AI. The team also has in mind the construction of a next-generation medical AI system that combines new quantum measurement technology and brain-based quantum computation technology. These are the possibilities to integrate RIKEN's strengths and bring innovation to the field of life sciences.
Humanities
In the Humanities Team, using noncommutativity in the order effect of human cognitive processes similar to quantum theory, the team will formulate aesthetics of literary expressions based on the ambiguous semantic superposition, and identify its constitutive principle through quantum computer simulations. In addition, the team will also logically formulate the quantum theoretical mechanisms of how various humanistic and social scientific phenomena emerge, and experimentally verify them using quantum computer simulations.
Computational Science
The Computational Science Team works on quantum simulation using the supercomputer Fugaku as well as the development of quantum/classical hybrid systems. Also the team will work on the verification of quantum algorithms in the various fields being developed by the RIKEN Quantum. Through the evaluation of the algorithms, the team will work on the development of an optimal quantum/classical hybrid system.
Information & Data Science
The Information & Data Science Team works on the development of quantum many-body simulations, quantum-classical data transformation, quantum machine learning algorithms, etc., and will collaborate with other teams to find the most effective applications of these to truly meaningful problems in physics, chemistry and life sciences. The developed quantum algorithms will be validated by quantum simulations using Fugaku as well as by actual quantum computers.