Google’s quantum computer simulation of a wormhole may not have worked

The first simulation of a wormhole on a quantum computer made headlines, but new research questions whether it was an accurate representation

To Leah Crane

The first simulations of wormholes on quantum computers may not have been an accurate representation of wormholes after all. Since the original simulation was published last year, another group of researchers has explored the physics behind the study and found several problems that could spoil the results.

At the heart of the original work is a concept called “holographic wormholes.” This is a simplified depiction of a wormhole using techniques from quantum mechanics to make it easier to simulate. It’s important…