Hybrid Programming for Near-Term Quantum Computing Systems

Alexander McCaskey, Eugene Dumitrescu, Dmitry Liakh, Travis Humble

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent computations involving quantum processing units (QPUs)have demonstrated a series of challenges inherent to hybrid classical-quantum programming, compilation, execution, and verification and validation. Despite considerable progress, system-level noise, limited low-level instructions sets, remote access models, and an overall lack of portability and classical integration presents near-term programming challenges that must be overcome in order to enable reliable scientific quantum computing and support robust hardware benchmarking. In this work, we draw on our experience in programming QPUs to identify common concerns and challenges, and detail best practices for mitigating these challenges within the current hybrid classical-quantum computing paradigm. Following this discussion, we introduce the XACC quantum compilation and execution framework as a hardware and language independent solution that addresses many of these hybrid programming challenges. XACC supports extensible methodologies for managing a variety of programming, compilation, and execution concerns across the increasingly diverse set of QPUs. We use recent nuclear physics simulations to illustrate how the framework mitigates programming, compilation, and execution challenges and manages the complex workflow present in QPU-enhanced scientific applications. Finally, we codify the resulting hybrid scientific computing workflow in order to identify key areas requiring future improvement.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2018 IEEE International Conference on Rebooting Computing, ICRC 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781538691700
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2 2018
Event2018 IEEE International Conference on Rebooting Computing, ICRC 2018 - Tysons, United States
Duration: Nov 7 2018Nov 9 2018

Publication series

Name2018 IEEE International Conference on Rebooting Computing, ICRC 2018

Conference

Conference2018 IEEE International Conference on Rebooting Computing, ICRC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTysons
Period11/7/1811/9/18

Funding

This work has been supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) Early Career Research Award, and the DOE Office of Science ASCR quantum algorithms and testbed programs, under field work proposal numbers ERKJ332 and ERKJ335. This work was also supported by the ORNL Undergraduate Research Participation Program, which is sponsored by ORNL and administered jointly by ORNL and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US Department of Energy under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities for the US Department of Energy under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22750. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

Keywords

  • Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Programming Models

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