On January 29, 2025, researchers from the Quantum Information and Computing Group (GICC) at the Complutense University of Madrid unveiled a groundbreaking study that integrates quantum artificial intelligence to enhance black hole detection through gravitational waves.
Led by Professor Miguel A. Martín-Delgado, the team demonstrated that a quantum algorithm, known as qBIRD, can significantly accelerate the identification of black holes and their parameters, such as mass and celestial positioning, using data from the LIGO-VIRGO-KAGRA collaboration.
This innovative approach addresses the increasing bottleneck in gravitational wave astrophysics, as the frequency of detecting compact objects like black holes and neutron stars rises. The research signifies a pivotal shift in methodologies, potentially transforming how astrophysicists analyze vast amounts of data.
The study is a product of international collaboration, involving members from GICC and Queen Mary University of London, including Professor Hong Qi, a notable figure in the LIGO collaboration that discovered the first gravitational wave from colliding black holes, which earned the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, this research highlights the multidisciplinary nature of the work, intertwining quantum computing, gravitational wave astrophysics, and multi-messenger astronomy, paving the way for future advancements in the field.