Cracking the Universe's Oldest Mystery: Quantum Computer Simulates Phantom Particle Decay
- Scientists have used a quantum computer to simulate a phantom nuclear process, offering a new tool to investigate why our universe is made of matter and not antimatter.
- The simulation is the first of its kind, modeling "neutrinoless double-beta decay"—a theoretical event that violates the known laws of particle physics2, 6.
- This breakthrough positions quantum computers as powerful engines of discovery, capable of probing the fundamental secrets of the cosmos.
At the dawn of time, the Big Bang should have created equal amounts of matter and antimatter, destined to annihilate each other into pure energy. Yet, here we are. Our existence is the universe’s greatest unsolved mystery: what happened to all the antimatter?
Now, scientists from IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and the University of Washington may have found a new way to crack the case2. Using IonQ’s Forte Enterprise quantum computer, they have successfully simulated a ghostly nuclear process so rare it has never been directly observed in nature: neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ)6. This event, if it exists, would violate a core principle of the Standard Model of particle physics and suggest that the enigmatic neutrino is its own antiparticle—a so-called Majorana particle1, 5.
Such a discovery would be a key piece in the puzzle of cosmic imbalance7. By recreating the dynamics of this decay on timescales of a yocto-second (10⁻²⁴ seconds), the team has opened a revolutionary new path for physics research6. It proves that quantum computers can model the universe's most complex and elusive phenomena, exploring symmetries and forces far beyond the reach of even the most powerful classical supercomputers. This achievement is not just a simulation; it's a critical first step toward rewriting our understanding of the universe and, ultimately, explaining why we are here at all.
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