Dr. Mathieu Pellen

T a l k : 16. April 2026 

Simulating Particle Physics with Quantum Computers

Abstract

Quantum computing promises dramatic improvements in solving complex problems and may unlock quantum advantages in real-world applications. At the same time, high-energy physics is an extremely computationally demanding field, with billions of CPU hours required each year to interpret data from the Large Hadron Collider. Moreover, modern simulations of high-energy collisions rely primarily on perturbative calculations in quantum field theory, making therefore the link to a fundamentally quantum computational framework particularly intriguing. It is therefore natural to ask whether quantum computing can help overcome some of the current computational bottlenecks in high-energy physics.

In this presentation, after an introduction to the basic ideas of quantum computing and high-energy physics, I review the current state of the field for quantum-computing applications in high-energy physics. To that end, I will discuss how quantum algorithms may be applied to several key aspects of collider simulations, including cross-section calculations, parton-shower simulations, and the computation of amplitudes in quantum-field-theory. Finally, I will discuss the extent to which these applications can be implemented on current quantum hardware as well as the prospects for future quantum advantage in high-energy physics.