Integration of High Performance Computing and
Quantum Computing
Sven Karlsson, DTU
HPCQC.org nordiquest.net
Why Quantum?
Fundamentally changes what is computable
For some problems you need a quantum computer
Noted by Feynman in 1982
Some of what was previously intractable is with QC tractable
Chemistry, optimization, …
Moore’s Law is ending
Quantum computing can help in continuing to increase performance
QC compute power can scale exponentially with the number of devices
Quantum computing is radically different from “classical” computing
Thinking fresh and new is necessary
Can lead to new “classical” algorithms
Quantum simulator of physical system
A quantum system is needed to efficiently simulate a quantum system
Noted by Feynman in 1982
“Lets build an experiment where we use quantum effects to understand another system”
Leveraging the intristic quantum nature of quantum computers
Use the quantum computer as an accelerator for quantum effects!
Quantum Gate Model Systems
Omnissiahs hierophant, CC BY-SA
4.0
More general quantum computers consists of quantum logic gates forming quantum
algorithms
Above a quantum full adder
Quantum Gate Model Systems
Omnissiahs hierophant, CC BY-SA
4.0
More general quantum computers consists of quantum logic gates forming quantum
algorithms
Above a quantum full adder
Gates are largely technology independent and are mapped to implementations using,
often, proprietary tools
Quantum Gate Model Systems, pt2
Omnissiahs hierophant, CC BY-SA
4.0
A number of technologies exists: Superconducting, Trapped ion, Diamond-based etc
Gates typically are implemented by sending sequences of control signals
Technology limitations means that the quantum state can only survive a limited time
Leads to limits on algorithm size
Quantum Gate Model Systems, pt3
Omnissiahs hierophant, CC BY-SA
4.0
A number of technologies exists: Superconducting, Trapped ion, Diamond-based etc
Technologies develop rapidly
Slowly working towards the holy grail: Fault tolerance
We are currently in the NISQ era
Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum
QC and HPC Interplay
QC HPC
QC will likely first be used as an accelerator of key HPC algorithms
Why HPCQC Integration?
Why QC?
• Quantum systems are becoming generally usable systems
with active ecosystem development
• User demand is rising with requests from broad communities
Why Integrated??
• Quantum systems require complex and high-performance “classical” components
• Applications will be hybrid and hence systems should be as well
What?
• Mature activities: NordIQuEst, Munich Quantum Valley
General challenges
Single System With Integrated
Quantum Computing Appliance
QC Accelerator(s)
Two Separate Software Stacks Single Source Programming with
With “Glue Scripts” High-Level Abstractions
Integrated in Data Center with Cooling,
Independent Systems
Power/Energy, Monitoring
Computer Science, Math, Electrical
Hybrid HPCQC Community
Engineering, Physics Communities
The Challenge
HPC + QC + ? = Success!
Open question: How to integrate quantum devices into classical systems.
Software? Programming models? Compilers?
Workflows?
System software? Tools?
Hardware / Software co-design, classical and quantum
Computer architecture?
Hardware integration?
Technology stack
Quantum Gate Sets
Quantum
Low-Level Control
Computation Model
Quantum Circuits
Quantum Chip
Quantum Algorithms
Control Unit
The Quantum Chip is “Analog”
QC and HPC Interplay
QC HPC
QC will likely first be used as an accelerator of key HPC algorithms
QC for HPC but also
HPC for QC
HPC for QC
Quantum Gate Sets
Quantum
Low-Level Control
Computation Model
Quantum Circuits
Quantum Chip
Quantum Algorithms
Control Unit
NordIQuEst
The NordIQuEst Mission
• NordIQuEst will deliver user and computer interfaces, quantum program libraries,
training and education events and material, as well as user support.
• Pooling of resources and collaboration for reaching critical mass, providing access to
several Nordic quantum computers (QC) (q-HW) and QC simulators (SW)
• Chalmers and VTT will connect their current QCs to the NordIQuEst API
• CSC will connect LUMI and the Atos QLM quantum simulator to the NordIQuEst API
• By the end of this project, a sustainable functioning, truly multi-purpose Nordic
quantum computing ecosystem will be established and ready to be further exploited
NordIQuEst
WP2: Library of use cases:
QAOA, VQE, …..
WP2
WP3 WP3 WP3 WP3
WP3 WP3
WP3 WP3 WP4 WP4 WP4
WP3 WP3 WP4
CHALMERS VTT CSC WP4 WP4
SRL SRL Berzelius
The NordIQuEst Application Library
What?
• Practical approach - collect documented and curated material
• Algorithms
• Examples
• Experiences
• For use cases
• Practical aspects
• Theory aspects
• Notebooks or code
https://nordiquest.net/application-library/
• Also on GitHub
• Clone and get all information
• We want your pull requests!
• Library is growing
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Quantum Chemistry Example
• Overview
• Software requirements
• Theory
• Both for the problem domain
• … and the Quantum implementation
• Worklist
• What are the steps required
• Notebook
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Selected projects
