  Quantum simulators are a promising technology on the spectrum of quantum
devices from specialized quantum experiments to universal quantum computers.
These quantum devices utilize entanglement and many-particle behaviors to
explore and solve hard scientific, engineering, and computational problems.
Rapid development over the last two decades has produced more than 300 quantum
simulators in operation worldwide using a wide variety of experimental
platforms. Recent advances in several physical architectures promise a golden
age of quantum simulators ranging from highly optimized special purpose
simulators to flexible programmable devices. These developments have enabled a
convergence of ideas drawn from fundamental physics, computer science, and
device engineering. They have strong potential to address problems of societal
importance, ranging from understanding vital chemical processes, to enabling
the design of new materials with enhanced performance, to solving complex
computational problems. It is the position of the community, as represented by
participants of the NSF workshop on "Programmable Quantum Simulators," that
investment in a national quantum simulator program is a high priority in order
to accelerate the progress in this field and to result in the first practical
applications of quantum machines. Such a program should address two areas of
emphasis: (1) support for creating quantum simulator prototypes usable by the
broader scientific community, complementary to the present universal quantum
computer effort in industry; and (2) support for fundamental research carried
out by a blend of multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary collaborations with
resources for quantum simulator software, hardware, and education.
