2017/12/15 by Dominik Hangleiter, Hangleiter, Dominik, Jacques Carolan +3
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1712.05809
openalex publication_date 2017/12/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This paper provides the first systematic philosophical analysis of an increasingly important part of modern scientific practice: analogue quantum simulation. We introduce the distinction between `simulation' and `emulation' as applied in the context of two case studies. Based upon this distinction, and building upon ideas from the recent philosophical literature on scientific understanding, we provide a normative framework to isolate and support the goals of scientists undertaking analogue quantum simulation and emulation. We expect our framework to be useful to both working scientists and philosophers of science interested in cutting-edge scientific practice.