Microsoft has made another quantum breakthrough as they introduced the Integrated Hybrid functionality of Azure Quantum. With this, researchers can start constructing hybrid quantum applications that combine classical and quantum code and operate on the Quantinuum H-Series in Azure Quantum. This capacity is a first in the industry and enables a new generation of hybrid algorithms applicable to multiple industries.
“Error correction methods described in research papers and reserved to quantum hardware manufacturers can now be implemented and tested by scientists around the world. Using Azure Quantum and QCI unique real-time capabilities, the Entropica Labs team implemented a simple process for the quantum repetition code scheme. The data allowed the team to investigate the effects of noise on different initial quantum states, and different circuit variations of the scheme. It also allowed the team to test the effectiveness of different error-correction recovery strategies. This opens the possibility of optimizing code schemes for better efficiencies, based on real-world hardware environments. Azure Quantum provides the framework to ensure that in the quest of achieving scalability, error-correction code schemes can tested and optimized at each step of the way.”
Jing Hao Chai, Fault-tolerant Quantum Computing Scientist at Entropica Labs.
Deep integration of classical computing skills such as HPC and AI with scaled quantum computing in the cloud will be critical to unlocking significant, commercial-scale applications. And with Microsoft continuing to achieve another milestone towards scalable quantum computing, creating more solutions and integrations between a quantum computer and classical computing will eventually become available. Thus, the advancement of the new Integrated Hybrid functionality is a significant advancement and an essential component of Hybrid Quantum Computing architecture.
This launch ushers in integrated quantum computing, allowing scientists to create novel algorithms such as adaptive phase estimation, which can iterate and adapt over classical processing while physical qubits are coherent.
“Quantum computing hardware is rapidly improving. Enabling solutions such as the integrated hybrid tools from Azure Quantum empower users to take advantage of the emerging hardware features and capabilities.”
tony Uttley, President & Chief Operating Officer at Quantinuum
This new capability is also a watershed moment for students studying quantum computing. Students can start learning algorithms without designing circuits, instead relying on high-level programming structures like branching based on qubit readings.
“The ability to do high fidelity iterative circuits, including classical calculations within runtime, opens up a whole new set of algorithms. Each algorithm could significantly improve fidelities just like iterative phase estimation, and bring us closer to Quantum Advantage.”
Michael Egan, Director Quantum Technologies at KPMG.
Creating hybrid quantum computing systems necessitates a whole stack strategy in which software and hardware are linked to give new capabilities and the best performance feasible. The QIR Alliance, formed in September 2022 by prominent quantum software and hardware providers, has propelled innovation into integrated hybrid capabilities through Quantum Intermediate Representation.
“We are proud to see that the efforts of the QIR Alliance have resulted in achieving a tighter integration between quantum and classical resources. These recent advances are a critical step towards a practical use of quantum acceleration. We are excited about the new opportunities for application research that are now available to everyone.”
Dr Bettina Heim, Chair of the QIR Alliance.
“Azure Quantum, equipped with a new quantum computer hybrid architecture has become is a powerful platform that allows us for a wide range of research possibilities.”
Tennin Yan, CEO at Qunasys.
“QIR is the main enabler for increasing expressivity of quantum programs in a standard and interoperable manner. Using hardware-specific QIR profiles, end users can take full advantage of the unique capabilities provided by the H-Series quantum computers including runtime support for measurement-conditioned program flow control – a key building block of quantum error correction paving the way towards fault-tolerant quantum computing of the future.”
Alex Chernoguzov, Chief Engineer of Commercial Products at Quantinuum
Microsoft specializes in architecting a public cloud with Azure that makes scalable quantum computing a reality, and then effortlessly delivers its significant benefits of it to our clients. In essence, Azure is co-designing artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and quantum, and their combination will have a significant impact in the future.
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