D. Lee, Michigan State University (Principal Investigator)
S. Bogner, Michigan State University (Co-Investigator)
H. Hergert, Michigan State University (Co-Investigator)
R. LaRose, Michigan State University (Co-Investigator)

Quantum computing has the potential to solve some of the most complex challenges in fundamental nuclear physics, such as the dynamics of inelastic reactions, equation of state of dense nuclear matter, and the excitation spectrum of heavy nuclei. To help realize this potential, researchers at Michigan State University are developing efficient quantum algorithms designed specifically to tackle these nuclear physics problems. The primary objective of this project is to create new computational tools that leverage foundational physics concepts—such as symmetries and conservation laws—to overcome current hardware limitations.

The team will use classical emulators and quantum hardware to perform 1D and 3D simulations of interacting protons and neutrons. By placing these particles on a lattice grid, they will build quantum states corresponding to atomic nuclei. Specialized algorithms will efficiently manage particle interactions and filter out unwanted quantum states to isolate specific target energies. To scale these simulations on current hardware, the researchers will progressively expand from small, coarse grids into larger, high-resolution systems and implement physics-driven machine learning models to correct algorithmic errors.
Ultimately, these practical strategies aim to accelerate the scientific community's progress toward achieving highly accurate nuclear simulations on future, large-scale quantum hardware. Beyond advancing theoretical nuclear physics, this project will strengthen the connection between nuclear physics and the broader frontier of quantum information science. The team will actively share their discoveries, simulation data, and open-source software tools to ensure their results are reproducible and accessible to the global research community. Additionally, this work will help train the next generation of computational quantum scientists and bring the excitement of scientific discovery to the public through outreach activities at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.