Google Willow Quantum Processor Reveals New Phase of Matter
Google Willow Quantum Processor Reveals New Phase of Matter
An international team of researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Princeton University, and Google Quantum AI has observed a previously theoretical phase of matter using the Google Willow quantum processor. The 58-qubit superconducting chip enabled the realization of a Floquet topologically ordered state, a non-equilibrium phase that had never been directly seen before.
Traditional phases of matter, such as liquid water or solid ice, are defined by equilibrium conditions where the system remains stable. In contrast, quantum systems can host exotic states that emerge only under constant dynamical perturbations. Floquet systems, driven by periodic cycles, can generate new forms of order beyond the reach of conventional thermodynamics.
Using Google Willow, the scientists visualized the behavior of this state and developed a novel interferometric algorithm to probe its topological structure. This allowed them to witness the predicted “transmutation” of exotic particles—an experimental milestone for quantum physics.
Google Willow has already demonstrated extraordinary computational power. In a previous experiment, it solved a calculation in under five minutes that would have taken supercomputers 10 septillion years. That result revived the debate around Hugh Everett’s many-worlds interpretation, which suggests that our universe is just one among countless parallel universes.
Melissa Will, a PhD researcher at TUM and lead author of the study published in Nature, highlighted the significance: “Highly entangled non-equilibrium phases are notoriously hard to simulate with classical computers. Our results show that quantum processors are not just computational devices – they are powerful experimental platforms for discovering and probing entirely new states of matter.”
Experts believe these findings mark the beginning of a new era where Google Willow and similar processors act as laboratories for exploring quantum matter out of equilibrium. Beyond fundamental physics, this breakthrough could lead to advances in quantum technologies and future materials science.
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About Google Willow
Google Willow is a superconducting quantum processor developed by Google Quantum AI, designed as a powerful platform for exploring the frontiers of quantum physics and computation.
The chip, operating with up to 58 qubits in cutting-edge experiments, has already demonstrated capabilities far beyond classical systems. Willow became widely known when it performed a calculation in under five minutes that Google estimated would take a classical supercomputer 10 septillion years, sparking renewed debate over the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Most recently, Willow enabled researchers from the Technical University of Munich, Princeton University, and Google to observe a Floquet topologically ordered state, a phase of matter never seen before. This achievement highlights Willow’s role not only as a computational tool but also as a laboratory for probing exotic non-equilibrium quantum matter. Its results are expected to influence future breakthroughs in quantum technologies and materials science.
Featured image Source: Google Blog
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