Error-mitigated algorithms for near-term quantum computers

据预测，量子计算机将能够解决今天的超级计算机无法解决的某些问题。这些问题包括与太阳能电池和电池设计相关的材料系统的建模和模拟，以及其他重要的实际应用。因此，例如，量子计算机最终可以实现对许多用于更高性能电池的候选材料的快速筛选。然而，今天的“噪声中级量子”(NISQ)量子计算机还不能实现完全的量子容错，并且受到与环境不想要的相互作用引起的错误的严重影响。该项目将开发旨在克服或减少这些错误的近期量子算法、编译策略和错误缓解技术。这些技术可以包括基于硬件的底层噪声模型的知识来重新编译量子电路，开发抗噪声的高效算法，或者设计针对特定算法或体系结构的错误缓解技术。文献中以前的工作已经提供了诱人的提示，即这种技术可能是有价值的，但已知的重新编译技术仅解决特定类型的错误，并且已知的错误缓解技术通常不利用正在运行的特定算法。该项目将包括理论工作，在经典计算机上进行数值模拟，以及在量子硬件上进行实验，这取决于它的可用性。如果成功，该项目将大大扩展NISQ量子计算机的覆盖范围。该项目属于量子技术研究领域，并与ICT、数学科学和物理科学相关联。该项目与量子软件初创公司Phasraft Ltd合作，共同资助这项研究。

Quantum computers are predicted to be able to solve certain problems that are beyond the capacity of today's supercomputers. These problems include the modelling and simulation of materials systems relevant to the design of solar cells and batteries, as well as other important practical applications. Quantum computers could thus ultimately enable, for example, rapid screening of many candidate materials for higher-performance batteries. However, today's "Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum" (NISQ) quantum computers are not yet able to implement full quantum fault-tolerance and are significantly impacted by errors caused by unwanted interactions with the environment.This project will develop near-term quantum algorithms, compilation strategies and error-mitigation techniques that aim to overcome or reduce these errors. These techniques may include recompiling quantum circuits based on the knowledge of an underlying noise model for the hardware, developing efficient algorithms that are resistant to noise, or designing error-mitigation techniques that are targeted to a particular algorithm or architecture. Previous work in the literature has provided tantalising hints that such techniques may be valuable, but known recompilation techniques only address particular types of errors, and known error-mitigation techniques usually do not take advantage of the specific algorithm being run. The project will encompass theoretical work, numerical simulations on classical computers, and running experiments on quantum hardware, subject to its availability. If successful, the project will significantly extend the reach of NISQ quantum computers.This project falls within the Quantum Technologies research area, and is also connected to ICT, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.The project is in collaboration with Phasecraft Ltd, a quantum software startup company, who are co-funding the research.