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Trapped ions offer long coherence times and high fidelity, programmable quantum operations, making them a promising platform for quantum simulation of condensed matter systems, quantum dynamics, and problems related to high-energy physics. We review selected developments in trapped-ion qubits and architectures and discuss quantum simulation applications that utilize these emerging capabilities. This review emphasizes developments in digital (gate-based) quantum simulations that exploit trapped-ion hardware capabilities, such as flexible qubit connectivity, selective mid-circuit measurement, and classical feedback, to simulate models with long-range interactions, explore nonunitary dynamics, compress simulations of states with limited entanglement, and reduce the circuit depths required to prepare or simulate long-range entangled states. 

Biomolecular condensates play a key role in cytoplasmic compartmentalization and cell functioning. Despite extensive research on the physico-chemical, thermodynamic, or crowding aspects of the formation and stabilization of the condensates, one less studied feature is the role of external perturbative fluid flow. In fact, in living cells, shear stress may arise from streaming or active transport processes. Here, we investigate how biomolecular condensates are deformed under different types of shear flows. We first model Couette flow perturbations via two-way coupling between the condensate dynamics and fluid flow by deploying Lattice Boltzmann Molecular Dynamics. We then show that a simplified approach where the shear flow acts as a static perturbation (one-way coupling) reproduces the main features of the condensate deformation and dynamics as a function of the shear rate. With this approach, which can be easily implemented in molecular dynamics simulations, we analyze the behavior of biomolecular condensates described through residue-based coarse-grained models, including intrinsically disordered proteins and protein/RNA mixtures. At lower shear rates, the fluid triggers the deformation of the condensate (spherical to oblated object), while at higher shear rates, it becomes extremely deformed (oblated or elongated object). At very high shear rates, the condensates are fragmented. We also compare how condensates of different sizes and composition respond to shear perturbation, and how their internal structure is altered by external flow. Finally, we consider the Poiseuille flow that realistically models the behavior in microfluidic devices in order to suggest potential experimental designs for investigating fluid perturbations in vitro.