Simulating Quantum Materials with Arnab Banerjee

Simulating Quantum Materials with Arnab Banerjee

From The New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technology by Sebastian Hassinger

April 7, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 87

About this episode

Arnab Banerjee discusses the simulation of quantum materials using IBM's Heron processor and its implications in experimental physics.

Can a quantum computer reproduce what happens when you fire neutrons at a magnetic crystal? Arnab Banerjee, the experimentalist who discovered the first signatures of a Kitaev quantum spin liquid, just proved it can — benchmarking IBM's Heron processor against real neutron scattering data from national laboratories. This is what quantum utility looks like when it's grounded in decades of experimental physics.

People in this episode

Host: Sebastian Hassinger

Guest: Arnab Banerjee

Topics covered

  • quantum computing
  • quantum materials
  • neutron scattering
  • magnetic crystals
  • experimental physics

Keywords

  • quantum computer
  • neutrons
  • magnetic crystal
  • Kitaev spin liquid
  • IBM Heron processor

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IBM

Books & works: Kitaev quantum spin liquid

Places: national laboratories

More episodes of The New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technology

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technology podcast page.