I work in the area of Quantum Simulators which is understanding and predicting (simulating) the behaviour of matter. Quantum
physics although relatively simple for single atoms and electrons when
applied to real materials becomes extremely complex. Why for example
certain materials are insulators when some others are conductors or
even a superconductors? Classical
computers require enormous computing power and memory to simulate even
the most modest of quantum systems. Instead of using classical
computers, one could try simulating the quantum effects using another,
perhaps artificial but highly controllable quantum system. I work in the area of photonic quantum simulators where crystals made of photons mimick the behaviour of crystals made of atoms and electrons.
