Bounding the Performance of Quantum Computers
Science/CS Domain(s)
Quantum Computing, Tensor Network Simulation, Quantum Hardware Experiments, Quantum Benchmarking
Overview
NERSC, the mission high performance computing center for the Department of Energy Office of Science, is seeking a motivated and talented student for a summer internship position within its Advanced Technologies Group (ATG). The ATG focuses on exploring emerging computing technologies, including quantum computing, to accelerate scientific discovery.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the rapidly evolving field of quantum computing, specifically focusing on developing and validating scalable bounds on the performance of quantum computers. As the performance of quantum computers improves, it will no longer be possible to classically simulate quantum circuits, leaving us unable to determine how close quantum circuit performance is to ideal results. For this reason, it is necessary to develop scalable benchmarks that provide a way to quantify and predict the performance of quantum circuits relative to ideal results, without relying on classical simulations.
Project description
The intern will contribute directly to the project to develop and validate these performance bounds. The work will involve two primary components, and, depending on the experience of the intern, one of the components may be prioritized:
- Experimental workflow: The intern will be responsible for developing a scalable experimental workflow that can characterize the noise in a quantum circuit and utilize methods such as randomized compiling that can tune the error model. The second part of the workflow will use these results to predict circuit performance. The experimental results will be validated against simulated results.
- Simulation pipeline: The simulation workflow will be used to (1) validate the experimental and (2) investigate the limits of classical simulations. The intern will explore different scalable classical simulation approaches, such as those based on tensor networks and Pauli paths.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibilities of this position include the following:
- Contribute to the development of the experimental workflow and/or the simulation pipeline.
- Analyze and evaluate results.
- Document all work, methodology, and results, culminating in a final presentation or report.
- Collaborate effectively with researchers and staff.
Qualifications
Required
The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. degree in computer science, physics, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a related field.
- Demonstrated understanding of the fundamentals of quantum computing and the quantum circuit model of computation.
- Experience with one of the following:
- Setting up experimental workflows on current quantum hardware.
- Running scalable approximate simulations, such as tensor networks.
- Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python).
- Familiarity with common quantum computing frameworks (e.g., Qiskit, Cirq, Pennylane).
- Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced research environment.
Desired
Desirable qualifications that may enhance the candidate’s chances of success include the following:
- Experience with high performance computing (HPC) environments.
- Prior experience with quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV).
Contact
Project mentor
Daan Camps
Quantum and High Performance Computing Engineer
National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)
HPC Technology Dept.
Advanced Technologies Group