Google's quantum AI chip unlocks new exotic phase of matter

An international research team from the Technical University of Munich, Princeton University, and Google Quantum AI has experimentally observed a previously theorized exotic phase of matter—known as a Floquet topologically ordered state—using Google's 58-qubit quantum processor, Willow. This non-equilibrium quantum state arises in systems driven by time-periodic Hamiltonians, where the governing physical rules change in a predictable, cyclical manner. Unlike conventional phases of matter defined under equilibrium conditions, these out-of-equilibrium phases exhibit dynamic, time-evolving properties that traditional thermodynamics cannot describe. The team developed an interferometric algorithm to probe the topological structure of this state, enabling them to witness the dynamical transformation of exotic particles predicted by theory. This breakthrough demonstrates that quantum computers like Willow are not merely computational tools but also powerful experimental platforms for exploring complex quantum phenomena that are difficult or impossible to simulate classically. The discovery opens a new frontier in quantum simulation, transforming quantum processors into laboratories for investigating out-of-equilibrium quantum matter