Researchers have discovered that when the Large Hadron Collider produces top quarks – the heaviest known fundamental particles – it regularly creates a property known as magic.
This new discovery from the Large Hadron Collider has implications for the progression of quantum computing.
Magic is a measure of how difficult a quantum system is for a non-quantum computer to calculate.
“The higher the magic, the more we need quantum computers to describe the behaviour,” explained Professor Martin White, from the University of Adelaide’s School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, who co-led the study with his brother, Professor Chris White, a physicist from Queen Mary University of London.
“Studying the magic properties of quantum systems generates significant insights into the development and potential uses of quantum computers.”
Powers of the Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
It consists of a 27-kilometre ring of superconducting magnets with several accelerating structures through which two high-energy particle beams travel at close to the speed of light before they are made to collide.
The LHC’s beams collide at four locations around the ring, corresponding to the positions of four particle detectors.
The main purpose of these functions is to discover fundamental mysteries in particle physics, including questions about the Standard Model and conditions just after the Big Bang.
The LHC has been upgraded to produce more collisions in a shorter space of time. Upgrades include more sensitive instruments, enhanced software, and narrower beams.
The effect of magic on quantum computing
The amount of magic exhibited by top quarks depends on their speed and direction of travel, all of which can be measured by the ATLAS and CMS detectors, which observe the results of the LHC proton collisions.
“Quantum research has long focused on entanglement, which is where particles become linked; however, our work on magic explores how well-suited particles are for building powerful quantum computers,” said Professor White.
“The ATLAS experiment has already observed evidence of quantum entanglement.
“We have shown that the Large Hadron Collider can also observe more complex patterns of quantum behaviour at the highest energies yet attempted for these kinds of experiments.”
Further exploring the connection between quantum and high-energy physics
For decades, scientists have strived to build quantum computers that leverage the laws of quantum mechanics to achieve far greater processing power than traditional computers.
The potential benefits of quantum computers are vast, impacting fields like drug discovery and materials science.
Harnessing this power requires robust and controllable quantum states, and the Large Hadron Collider’s magic plays a critical role in achieving that control.
Professor White concluded: “Our research paves the way for a deeper understanding of the connection between quantum information theory and high-energy physics.
“This discovery is not just about the heaviest particles in the Universe; it’s about unlocking the potential of a revolutionary new computing paradigm.”
