Future fruitfulness of the digital-analog quantum paradigm without full error correction

Establish whether, in the absence of a full-fledged quantum error-corrected computer, digital-analog quantum technologies will remain a fruitful avenue for quantum simulation and computing in the coming years.

Background

The article argues that fully error-corrected, large-scale quantum computers remain technologically out of reach in the near term, motivating hybrid digital-analog approaches that leverage native analog interactions with digital control. The author posits a conjecture about the continued utility of this paradigm under current technological constraints.

This raises a broad but explicit conjecture about the long-term viability and effectiveness of digital-analog quantum simulation and computing before fault-tolerant architectures become practical.

References

As far as the technology still does not allow one for developing a full-fledged quantum error corrected computer, one may conjecture that the digital-analog quantum paradigm may still be a fruitful avenue for years to come.

— Digital-Analog Quantum Simulation and Computing: A Perspective on Past and Future Developments  (2604.04438 - Lamata, 6 Apr 2026) in Section 6 (Outlook), final paragraph

It remains to be seen how these trajectories compare as the technology matures, and whether gate-based quantum simulation (and computation) will eventually consign present-day analogue approaches to history, as has largely happened with simulation by classical analogue electronics.

— Scientific applications of quantum computing: challenges and opportunities  (2608.16568 - Camino et al., 17 Aug 2026) in Introduction