Rolls-Royce, working alongside quantum specialists Xanadu and Riverlane, has achieved a major acceleration in jet engine airflow simulation by applying quantum computing techniques. The project saw Rolls-Royce provide the industrial use case, while Riverlane delivered quantum algorithms and Xanadu optimised the quantum-classical workflow through its PennyLane software.

The result marks a step change in computational efficiency, reducing simulation times from several weeks to under an hour. This improvement is expected to influence future prototyping and design processes within aerospace development, particularly in areas requiring complex airflow modelling.

Traditional computational fluid dynamics typically involves solving vast systems of linear equations—tasks that can demand significant supercomputing resources and extended runtimes. By integrating quantum tools with established simulation frameworks, the collaboration demonstrates a route to handling these workloads more rapidly.

Xanadu CEO and founder Christian Weedbrook noted that the approach achieved as much as a thousand-fold reduction in prototyping time. He added that the project focused on tailoring quantum methods to the specific needs of Rolls-Royce, using the Catalyst compiler to enhance PennyLane programme performance and reach practical, deployable outcomes.