Exploiting first-generation quantum computers

内容：本杰明教授的团队（qtechtheory.org）有一个正在进行的理论项目，该项目将分析技术与传统的超级计算机相结合，以预测第一代量子计算机的行为，包括它们的局限性和缺陷。目的是为这些强大但不完美的系统找到应用。世界各地的许多研究小组正在接近实现第一代功能强大的新技术：量子计算机。建造这样的机器意味着学习控制量子比特（quantum bits）。人们正在尝试不同的方法：量子位可能是单个原子，或钻石中的纳米结构，或超导环。但它们都有一个共同点：我们所能实现的控制远远低于我们对传统计算机中比特的控制。因此，与我们可靠的传统技术相比，第一代量子计算机将是不完美的，但它们仍有潜力变得更加强大。这个理论项目将使用分析技术和传统的超级计算机来理解第一代量子计算机的行为，包括它们的局限性和缺陷。该项目的主要目标是确定新材料和化学发现等应用，这些应用可能能够在近期的量子计算机上成功运行，尽管它有缺陷。作为对这一点的自然补充，当一项研究得出结论，认为量子计算机不太可能加速特定类别的问题时，这也是一个值得报告的有价值的结果。获得新兴量子设备的功率的有用度量也是一个潜在的感兴趣的主题; IBM引入的称为“量子体积”的度量就是一个这样的例子，但是出于各种原因，希望具有多个基准。该研究将包括分析“纸笔”理论以及使用传统计算机模拟量子机器的数值建模;对于后一个目标，该小组拥有QuEST系列软件包，可以尽可能进行有效的模拟。随着越来越有用的量子原型硬件在网上可用，很可能这些系统（迄今为止，这些技术太小，不完善，无法发挥作用）也将得到利用。（高级研究计算）设施，特别是~ 100万英镑的计算和GPU节点集群，已作为NQIT中心的一部分获得，并将作为量子计算和模拟新中心的一部分获得。主要支持将来自教授西蒙本杰明（牛津）和主机组包括14个人在相关领域工作，包括博士后博士巴林特Koczor在牛津大学。该项目属于EPSRC类别“量子技术”福尔斯。

Context: Prof Benjamin's group (qtechtheory.org) has an ongoing theory project which uses a combination of analytic techniques together with conventional supercomputers to predict the behaviour of 1st generation quantum computers including their limitations and flaws. The aim is to find applications for these powerful but imperfect systems. Many research groups around the world are getting close to realizing the first generation of a profoundly powerful new class of technology: quantum computers. Building such a machine means learning to control qubits (quantum bits). Different approaches are being tried: qubits may be individual atoms, or nanostructures in diamond, or superconducting loops. But all have one thing in common: the control we can achieve is far lower than the control we have over bits in conventional computers. The first generation of quantum computers will therefore be imperfect, by comparison to our reliable conventional technologies, but they will still have the potentially to be vastly more powerful. This theory project will use both analytic techniques and conventional supercomputers to understand the behaviour of 1st generation quantum computers including their limitations and flaws. The primary goals of the project will be to identify applications, such as novel materials and chemistry discovery, which may be able to run successfully on a near-term quantum computer despite its imperfections. As a natural complement to this, when a study results in the conclusion that a specific class of problems are unlikely to be accelerated by quantum computers, then this is also a valuable outcome to be reported. It is also a potential theme of interest to obtain useful measures of the power of emerging quantum devices; the metric called "quantum volume" introduced by IBM is one such example but for various reasons it is desirable to have a plurality of benchmarks. The research will include both analytic "pen and paper" theory as well as numerical modelling using conventional computers to simulate quantum machines; for the latter goal the group has the QuEST family of software packages that allow efficient simulation to the extent possible. As increasingly useful quantum prototype hardware becomes available online, it is likely that these systems (which have hitherto been too small and imperfect to be useful) will also be used.Resources available to the project include the Oxford ARC (Advanced Research Computing) facility and specifically the ~£1M cluster of compute and GPU nodes that have been acquired as part of the NQIT hub and will be acquired as part of the new Hub in Quantum Computing and Simulation. Primary support will come from Prof. Simon Benjamin (Oxford) and the host group includes 14 individuals working in related areas including postdoc Dr Balint Koczor at Oxford.This project falls under the EPSRC category "quantum technologies".