Scott Genin, Vice President of Materials Discovery at OTI Lumionics, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Key points are:
- Background and Role: Scott leads early-stage materials development processes at OTI Lumionics, focusing on computational tools for simulating materials and directing preliminary synthesis.
- About OTI Lumionics: Founded in 2011, the company specializes in developing novel materials and engineering applications for OLEDs and displays. They are currently in the mass production qualification stage.
- Quantum Computing in Material Design: Quantum computing allows OTI Lumionics to narrow down potential chemical candidates from thousands to hundreds, saving time and resources. It enhances the precision of quantum chemistry simulations.
- Quantum-Inspired Algorithms: Due to the limitations of current quantum computers, the company uses quantum-inspired algorithms that run on classical hardware. These algorithms are designed to simulate many qubits and are focused on quantum chemistry.
- Molecule Complexity: OLED molecules can range from 40 to 90 atoms and may include heavy metals like platinum or iridium, adding complexity to the simulations.
- Development Journey: Initially, the company aimed to run simulations on quantum computers but shifted to quantum-inspired algorithms due to the limitations of existing quantum hardware.
- Requirements for True Quantum Computing: Scott believes that for a quantum computer to be useful in their work, it would need at least 300 logical, fully interconnected qubits with near-perfect fidelity.
- Applicability Beyond OLEDs: The quantum-inspired method they've developed can be applied to other fields like pharma and carbon capture, as it solves the electronic structure problem that underpins materials discovery.
- Other Quantum Computing Types: While they have considered annealers and are open to analog quantum computers, they find that these have niche applications in their work.
