University of Melbourne scientists have set a world record in simulating quantum power on a classical computer, demonstrating more quantum data crunching than any of the existing quantum computer prototypes.

The team, led by Deputy Director of the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology and Thomas Baker Chair Lloyd Hollenberg, has simulated the output of a 60-qubit quantum computer, which in general would require up to 18,000 petabytes, or more than a billion laptops, to describe – capabilities well beyond the largest supercomputer.