In 2019, the quantum computing industry achieved a milestone known as “quantum supremacy,” where a small-scale quantum computer solved a problem that would take an impractical amount of time on a classical computer. However, this demonstration was limited to a highly contrived problem with no real-world application. Since then, advances in both quantum and high-performance classical computing technologies have raised new questions about the fundamental challenges to building a scalable quantum computer.
A recent position paper by Masoud Mohseni, K. Grace Johnson, and Ray Beausoleil addresses these questions by proposing a systems engineering approach to design and build a full-stack platform for high-performance hybrid quantum-classical computing. The research involves companies and organizations such as Qolab, Applied Materials, Synopsys, HPE, 1QBit, and Quantum Machines, which aim to integrate state-of-the-art semiconductor technology with supercomputing capabilities.
The goal is to build a practical fault-tolerant quantum computer that can solve industrially useful problems in a cost-effective way. The researchers argue that a more practical approach to utility-scale quantum computing is possible by employing advanced technologies and incorporating quantum processors within a high-performance distributed framework.
Overcoming the Scaling Challenges in Quantum Computing
The quantum computing industry has made significant progress since the demonstration of quantum supremacy in 2019. However, the initial excitement has given way to a more nuanced understanding of the technical challenges that must be overcome to build a scalable and practical quantum computer. In this article, we will delve into the fundamental challenges that lie ahead and explore the opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
The concept of quantum supremacy, also known as quantum advantage, refers to the ability of a quantum computer to solve a problem that is impractical or impossible for a classical computer. While this milestone was achieved in 2019, it was limited to a highly contrived problem with no real-world application. Moreover, recent advances in classical computing have eroded much of the reported quantum computational advantage.
The industry’s expectation of exponential growth in qubit scaling has not materialized, and the current pace of innovation is too slow to reach utility-scale quantum computing in the next decade. The optimistic industry expectation has not been met, and the double exponential desired trajectory is unlikely to happen.
To overcome the scaling challenges, a systems engineering approach is necessary. This involves embracing the idea that many system parameters must be simultaneously optimized for a complex system. By starting with the quantum problem to be solved and the algorithm to be executed, researchers can establish criteria for distributed execution and error correction needed to build a machine that can enable new discoveries.
State-of-the-art semiconductor technology can play a crucial role in accelerating the pace of innovation and reducing costs. By employing atomically accurate fabrication methods and design simulations pioneered by companies like Qolab, Applied Materials, and Synopsys, researchers can design and test high-quality quantum components and system integration at all intermediate scales.
Software scaling and real-time error correction are critical components of a heterogeneous high-performance quantum-classical coprocessor. Companies like HPE, 1QBit, and Quantum Machines are exploring how to augment HPC software stacks to take advantage of classical computing infrastructures such as NVIDIA DGX Quantum.
Building a machine that can enable new discoveries will require collaboration and open innovation across the semiconductor manufacturing, classical HPC, and quantum computing communities. By publishing the technical challenges openly, researchers hope to build a bridge between these communities to address outstanding challenges.
The world will know that quantum computing is real when it enables the announcement of a major scientific or technological discovery by academia or industry, and the fact that it was obtained using a quantum computer is not as important as the result itself. To achieve this goal, researchers must overcome the scaling challenges and build a practical and cost-effective approach to utility-scale quantum computing.
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