28.01.2020 15:15

Quantum computing: From the basic concepts to the embedding in an HPC environment

Kristel Michielsen (FZ Jülich)

A quantum computer (QC) is a device that performs operations according to the rules of quantum theory. There are various types of QCs of which nowadays the two most important ones considered for practical realization are the gate-based QC and the quantum annealer (QA). Practical realizations of gate-based QCs consist of less than 100 qubits while QAs with more than 2000 qubits are commercially available.

Significant advances in the system- and application-oriented development of quantum computers open up new approaches to hard optimization problems, efficient machine learning and simulations of complex quantum systems.

We present results of benchmarking IBM Quantum Experience and CAS-Alibaba gate-based QCs, and D-Wave 2000Q QAs. For this purpose, also simulations of both types of QCs are performed by first modelling them as zero-temperature quantum systems of interacting spin-1/2 particles and then emulating their dynamics by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Furthermore, we discuss some prototype applications in optimization and machine learning.

Practical application requires the integration of QCs into existing HPC infrastructures in the form of quantum-classical hybrid computing models. The “Jülich UNified Infrastructure for Quantum computing (JUNIQ)”, a QC user facility which is currently being set up at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, meets these needs. Within JUNIQ, user support and training in HPC and QC usage will be provided, software tools, modelling concepts and algorithms will be developed, and it will play an important role in the development of prototype applications.

 

 

HISKP, Hörsaal (Raum 0.023)

Category: Kolloquium, HISKP News, News