Performance-centric roadmap for building a superconducting quantum computer

EPJ Quantum Technology, vol. 13

Abstract

Abstract One of the outstanding challenges in contemporary science and technology is building a quantum computer that is useful in applications. By starting from an estimate of the algorithm success rate, we can explicitly connect gate fidelity to quantum system size targets and define a quantitative roadmap that maximizes performance while avoiding distractions. We identify four distinct phases for quantum hardware and enabling technology development. The aim is to improve performance as we scale and increase the algorithmic complexity the quantum hardware is capable of running, the algorithmic radius, towards a point that sets us up for quantum advantage with deep noisy intermediate-scale quantum computing (NISQ) as well as building a large-scale error-corrected quantum computer (QEC). Our hope is that this document contributes to shaping the discussion about the future of the field.

Authors 2

1. R. Barends corresponding Aachen Department of Physics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute for Functional Quantum Systems (PGI-13), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany

2. Frank K. Wilhelm

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Saarland University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Quantum Computing Analytics (PGI-12), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany

   Theoretical Physics, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany