Researchers Use Classical Computers to Simulate Hundreds of Qubits with Tensor Networks

• May 24, 2026

Classical Computers Challenge Quantum Advantage in Large-Scale Simulations

In a significant breakthrough for computational physics, researchers have successfully used classical computing systems to simulate quantum phenomena involving hundreds of qubits, a task formerly thought achievable only by quantum computers. This advancement, enabled by the application of tensor network techniques, challenges the long-held assumption about the exclusivity of quantum machines in handling large-scale quantum simulations.

The team conducted their initial calculations on a personal laptop, highlighting the efficiency and accessibility of the new approach. Details of the research were published on May 21 in the journal Science, underscoring the potential implications for both quantum computing and classical computational methods.

Quantum computers leverage qubits, the quantum equivalent of classical bits, to process complex quantum states. However, replicating these quantum states on classical architectures typically comes with enormous computational costs as system size increases. The latest study has demonstrated that tensor networks—a mathematical framework designed to efficiently represent and manipulate large quantum systems—can drastically reduce these computational demands.

Tensor networks offer a structured way to describe high-dimensional quantum states by capturing relationships and entanglements between qubits. Utilizing these networks, the researchers managed to simulate quantum behavior previously considered out of reach for classical systems, effectively narrowing the performance gap between classical and quantum computing platforms in this domain.

This development holds considerable importance beyond theoretical physics. Efficient quantum simulations on classical hardware can expedite experimental design, aid in testing quantum algorithms, and contribute to the development of quantum technologies without immediate reliance on fragile and expensive quantum devices.

While quantum computers continue to advance, with researchers striving for practical and scalable devices, the newfound capacity of classical machines to tackle larger quantum systems encourages a reevaluation of computational strategies in the field. This work indicates that classical and quantum computing might complement each other in exploring quantum phenomena, rather than existing in strict competition.

Future research is expected to refine the tensor network methodology further and explore its applications across various quantum problems. As classical computers gain more capabilities in simulating quantum mechanics, the landscape of quantum computing research and development may see significant shifts in the coming years.

Scientists have solved a quantum physics problem on classical computers, previously believed to require quantum machines, using tensor networks.