Presentation
Quantum Computers: The New Supercomputer Partition
SessionQuantum Computing
DescriptionIn the last decade, the quantum computing field has advanced from theory and university lab experiments to operational computing machines developed by several companies and startups. Even in these early development stages, quantum computers are becoming increasingly popular among several scientific and industrial users who want to test their real performance and adapt their solutions to this new programming paradigm. To control and operate quantum devices, one needs traditional computation: the quantum operations instructions and the quantum processing unit (QPU) readout are orchestrated by a "classical" computer. On top of that, there are no purely quantum algorithms, since several pre- and post-processing algorithmic subroutines require traditional computation. All these facts lead us to integrate quantum computers with classical computers, extending the supercomputer's capabilities by enabling a new chip technology. This talk will address the quantum-HPC integration roadmap: the motivation, methods, challenges, and opportunities. It will also summarize the experience that Barcelona Supercomputing Center is gaining with the installation, operation, and integration of two quantum computers on-premise.