How To Simulate The Universe With DFT

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If you used every particle in the observable universe to do a full quantum simulation, how big would that simulation be? At best a large molecule. That’s how insanely information dense the quantum wavefunction really is. And yet we routinely simulate systems with thousands, even millions of particles. How? By cheating. Using the ultimate compression algorithm: Density Functional Theory (DFT). Let’s learn how to cheat the universe.

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Hosted by Matt O'Dowd

Written by Graeme Gossel & Matt O'Dowd

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Spacetime is produced by Kornhaber Brown for PBS Digital Studios.

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End Credits Music by J.R.S. Schattenberg

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