Google Simulates Matter That Defies Reality, pushing Quantum Computing Boundaries
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – November 5, 2025 – Google researchers have achieved a breakthrough in quantum simulation, successfully modeling a state of matter that has never been observed in the physical world. The findings, published today in the journal Nature, demonstrate the potential of quantum computers to explore realms beyond the limitations of classical physics and materials science.
The research, a collaboration with the universities of Munich, Germany, and Princeton, in the United States, utilized Google’s sycamore and Willow quantum processors to simulate the behavior of atoms under conditions forcing them into a novel organizational structure-a “Floquet regime”-distinct from conventional solid or liquid states. This achievement marks a important step forward in understanding complex quantum phenomena and designing materials with unprecedented properties.
The simulation leveraged up to 58 qubits, the essential units of quantum information, which, unlike traditional bits, can exist in a state of superposition, representing both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This capability allowed researchers to manipulate highly entangled atoms, a feat considered exceptionally challenging for conventional computers.
“Intertwined non-equilibrium phases are complex for classical simulation,” explained Melissa Will, the study’s first author. The team’s approach, focusing on simulation rather than physical creation, distinguishes it from previous efforts, including a related study released by Microsoft earlier this year. USP Physics Institute researcher Bárbara Amaral noted the significance of observing virtual behavior without claiming experimental production of the state.
While this simulated matter doesn’t yet exist in a tangible form, the ability to model it opens doors to exploring entirely new possibilities in materials science, potentially leading to the discovery of substances with revolutionary characteristics. Previous research from institutions like Harvard,MIT,and Cornell has also explored theoretical non-existent states of matter,but Google’s simulation represents a leap in complexity and fidelity.
