Researchers Simulate 21-Spin Molecule on Trapped Ion Computer
Researchers used Quantinuum's System Model H2 trapped-ion processor to simulate the liquid-state proton NMR spectrum of 1,2-di-tert-butyl-diphosphane, a 21-spin molecule. The simulation ran at a two-qubit gate depth of 1442 and reproduced spectral details between 3.9 and 4 ppm.
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What this could mean
- 0–2 yearsPlausible
Within two years, trapped-ion quantum processors could become a reference tool for interpreting congested proton NMR regions in small organophosphorus molecules, if the H2 result generalises beyond this single compound.
The 21-spin simulation reproduced a narrow spectral window at high gate depth, indicating the hardware can preserve coherence long enough for chemically relevant spin dynamics. The remaining gate is whether the accuracy holds across varied molecules and experimental conditions.
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