Figure 1

The role of a quantum simulator. A quantum simulator reveals information about an abstract mathematical function relating to a physical model. However, it is important to consider the typical purpose and context of such a simulation. By comparing its results to a real system of interest, a simulation is used to decide whether or not the model accurately represents that system. If the representation is thought to be accurate, the quantum simulator can then loosely be considered as a simulator for the system of interest. We represent this in the figure by a feedback loop from the quantum device back to the system of interest.