Quantum Simulation Meets High-Energy Physics at the TH Institute

Enrique Ortega Rico (CERN) and Simone Montangero (University of Padova) during the “TH Institute on Quantum Simulation & Computation in High-Energy Physics” workshop.

From 8 to 19 September 2025, the CERN Theory Department hosted a two-week institute dedicated to exploring the intersection of quantum simulation, quantum computation, and high-energy physics (HEP). Co-organized by the Next Generation Triggers (NGT) project, the Quantum Technology Initiative (QTI), and the TH Department, the program created a unique setting where specialists from different domains could work side by side on some of today’s most ambitious scientific challenges.

Quantum technologies are evolving rapidly, yet many of their potential applications in fundamental physics remain unexplored. This institute set out to address that gap. Participants investigated how advances in quantum computation and simulation could be applied to long-standing HEP problems, while also reflecting on the realistic timelines and benchmarks needed for progress.

Central themes of the institute included:

  • Quantum algorithms for HEP – from Hamiltonian simulation to scattering amplitudes, with particular attention to hybrid quantum-classical approaches.
  • Error-mitigation strategies – essential for extracting reliable results from today’s noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices.
  • Benchmarking quantum hardware – establishing rigorous, HEP-relevant performance metrics to compare different platforms and approaches.
  • Applications beyond the Standard Model – examining how quantum methods could shed light on non-perturbative phenomena, neutrino evolution, and astroparticle physics scenarios such as dark matter and axion dynamics.

This focus ensured that discussions were not purely theoretical: the aim was always to connect technical advances in quantum information science with pressing questions in particle physics.

Building a community

The program combined lectures, focused talks, open discussions, and collaborative working sessions. This structure encouraged both deep dives into technical methods and broader exchanges about the state of the field.

“This institute is significant because it bridges two dynamic areas—quantum computation and simulation with high-energy physics—with the central aim of accelerating cross-pollination between experts,” explained Enrique Rico Ortega (CERN), one of the organizers. “By training researchers, setting clear goals, and realistically assessing the emergence of quantum advantage, the institute directly contributes to shaping future research directions and infrastructure.”

Participants discussing
during one of the sessions

For many, the value of the institute lay in the opportunities for genuine exchange across disciplines. Numerical analysts, quantum hardware specialists, and particle theorists were able to meet on common ground, compare perspectives, and identify shared challenges. The format encouraged open-ended conversations that may well shape the direction of future collaborations.

Looking ahead

Organizing such an intensive event requires significant effort, but for the organizers — Joachim Kopp (CERN), Clara Murgui (University of Barcelona), and Enrique Rico Ortega (CERN) — the rewards were clear. The institute not only deepened the connections between quantum technologies and high-energy physics, but also strengthened the community working at this frontier.

By bringing together expertise from across scientific domains, the TH Institute highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of integrating quantum methods into particle physics. It also underscored the importance of setting realistic expectations: quantum advantage will not appear overnight, but with careful goal-setting, sustained collaboration, and rigorous benchmarking, its emergence in HEP becomes an ever more tangible possibility.