20,681 research outputs found
qTorch: The Quantum Tensor Contraction Handler
Classical simulation of quantum computation is necessary for studying the
numerical behavior of quantum algorithms, as there does not yet exist a large
viable quantum computer on which to perform numerical tests. Tensor network
(TN) contraction is an algorithmic method that can efficiently simulate some
quantum circuits, often greatly reducing the computational cost over methods
that simulate the full Hilbert space. In this study we implement a tensor
network contraction program for simulating quantum circuits using multi-core
compute nodes. We show simulation results for the Max-Cut problem on 3- through
7-regular graphs using the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA),
successfully simulating up to 100 qubits. We test two different methods for
generating the ordering of tensor index contractions: one is based on the tree
decomposition of the line graph, while the other generates ordering using a
straight-forward stochastic scheme. Through studying instances of QAOA
circuits, we show the expected result that as the treewidth of the quantum
circuit's line graph decreases, TN contraction becomes significantly more
efficient than simulating the whole Hilbert space. The results in this work
suggest that tensor contraction methods are superior only when simulating
Max-Cut/QAOA with graphs of regularities approximately five and below. Insight
into this point of equal computational cost helps one determine which
simulation method will be more efficient for a given quantum circuit. The
stochastic contraction method outperforms the line graph based method only when
the time to calculate a reasonable tree decomposition is prohibitively
expensive. Finally, we release our software package, qTorch (Quantum TensOR
Contraction Handler), intended for general quantum circuit simulation.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure
Simulating chemistry efficiently on fault-tolerant quantum computers
Quantum computers can in principle simulate quantum physics exponentially
faster than their classical counterparts, but some technical hurdles remain.
Here we consider methods to make proposed chemical simulation algorithms
computationally fast on fault-tolerant quantum computers in the circuit model.
Fault tolerance constrains the choice of available gates, so that arbitrary
gates required for a simulation algorithm must be constructed from sequences of
fundamental operations. We examine techniques for constructing arbitrary gates
which perform substantially faster than circuits based on the conventional
Solovay-Kitaev algorithm [C.M. Dawson and M.A. Nielsen, \emph{Quantum Inf.
Comput.}, \textbf{6}:81, 2006]. For a given approximation error ,
arbitrary single-qubit gates can be produced fault-tolerantly and using a
limited set of gates in time which is or ; with sufficient parallel preparation of ancillas, constant average
depth is possible using a method we call programmable ancilla rotations.
Moreover, we construct and analyze efficient implementations of first- and
second-quantized simulation algorithms using the fault-tolerant arbitrary gates
and other techniques, such as implementing various subroutines in constant
time. A specific example we analyze is the ground-state energy calculation for
Lithium hydride.Comment: 33 pages, 18 figure
Limits on Fundamental Limits to Computation
An indispensable part of our lives, computing has also become essential to
industries and governments. Steady improvements in computer hardware have been
supported by periodic doubling of transistor densities in integrated circuits
over the last fifty years. Such Moore scaling now requires increasingly heroic
efforts, stimulating research in alternative hardware and stirring controversy.
To help evaluate emerging technologies and enrich our understanding of
integrated-circuit scaling, we review fundamental limits to computation: in
manufacturing, energy, physical space, design and verification effort, and
algorithms. To outline what is achievable in principle and in practice, we
recall how some limits were circumvented, compare loose and tight limits. We
also point out that engineering difficulties encountered by emerging
technologies may indicate yet-unknown limits.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
Integrated design for integrated photonics: from the physical to the circuit level and back
Silicon photonics is maturing rapidly on a technology basis, but design challenges are still prevalent. We discuss these challenges and explain how design of photonic integrated circuits needs to be handled on both the circuit as on the physical level. We also present a number of tools based on the IPKISS design framework
What is a quantum simulator?
Quantum simulators are devices that actively use quantum effects to answer
questions about model systems and, through them, real systems. Here we expand
on this definition by answering several fundamental questions about the nature
and use of quantum simulators. Our answers address two important areas. First,
the difference between an operation termed simulation and another termed
computation. This distinction is related to the purpose of an operation, as
well as our confidence in and expectation of its accuracy. Second, the
threshold between quantum and classical simulations. Throughout, we provide a
perspective on the achievements and directions of the field of quantum
simulation.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
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