Oak Ridge National Laboratory, IBM, and AMD are combining quantum and high-performance computing with a new co-design platform for quantum error correction. The initiative co-locates IBM Quantum’s 120-qubit IBM Quantum Nighthawk computer with ORNL’s Umbra system, powered by AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs and AMD Turin CPUs. This integration will allow researchers to accelerate progress toward the Department of Energy’s Quantum Genesis Mission, which aims to achieve a “scientifically relevant quantum computer” by 2028.
Co-Design Platform Integrates IBM Quantum, ORNL Umbra, and AMD Compute
The foundation for this new quantum error correction platform relies on AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs and 5th Generation AMD EPYC CPUs, which comprise the core of ORNL’s Umbra High-Performance Computing system. This specific hardware configuration provides the classical computing power necessary to support advanced research into quantum error correction, decoding optimization and the orchestration of complex software workflows. It is a fully integrated component designed to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center, emphasized the collaborative nature of this initiative, stating, “ORNL’s strength in high-performance computing, combined with the expertise of our QSC partners – like IBM and AMD – creates an opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible.” This partnership uses ORNL’s established expertise in HPC with IBM’s advancements in quantum processors and AMD’s contributions in specialized computing hardware. The platform’s design directly addresses a key challenge in scaling quantum error correction: the increasing demand for classical computing resources.
This ambitious target necessitates a tighter integration of quantum and classical systems, allowing researchers to efficiently decode quantum information and optimize error correction techniques. IBM’s Quantum System API provides researchers with pulse-level control over the quantum computer, enabling real-time measurement and manipulation of qubits to mitigate noise and improve fidelity, the company says. The co-design approach extends beyond hardware integration to encompass software and workflows.
Researchers will explore concatenated codes, space-time codes and algorithm-aware decoders, all integrated within a single stack. This approach aims to streamline the entire quantum computing process, from circuit optimization and compilation to software orchestration.
The platform’s connection to the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility further expands its capabilities, creating a pathway to explore quantum computing as an integral part of a broader AI and scientific computing infrastructure, according to IBM. Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Director of IBM Research, clarified the current focus of the field, stating, “The co-design platform is intended to be a testbed for evaluating different approaches and identifying the architectures, software, and workflows that will ultimately enable scalable and efficient quantum computing.” The team will specifically analyze how AMD’s future generations of compute, networking, and open software can evolve alongside quantum computers, informing the development of both IBM Quantum Starling, IBM’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer, and future supercomputers.
This initiative builds upon existing collaborations between IBM, ORNL and AMD. Previous joint efforts have demonstrated the potential of combining quantum computers with supercomputers to simulate complex materials and calculate molecular configurations. The current platform represents a significant expansion of these efforts, with a dedicated focus on quantum error correction and the development of a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing infrastructure. This co-design platform is an important step toward building the scalable, efficient computing infrastructure needed to make fault-tolerant quantum computing a reality.”
Solving the challenges of quantum error correction is essential to making quantum computing a practical tool for scientific discovery, which is a priority for Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center
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