"Zu Chongzhi" has launched a new product. What exactly is the quantum computing cloud platform?

Produced by: Science Popularization China

Author: Luan Chunyang (Department of Physics, Tsinghua University)

Producer: China Science Expo

Last week, a "Zu Chongzhi" machine based on superconducting quantum computing solutions was officially launched on the quantum computing cloud platform and is open to global users.

It is reported that the "Zu Chongzhi" quantum computing cloud platform was jointly developed by the Institute of Quantum Information and Quantum Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other units. Currently, users can use up to 176 quantum bits for online testing and can execute quantum algorithms programmed by users. This indicates that my country's quantum computing cloud platform has not only refreshed the bit number record of superconducting quantum computers, but also the design indicators of the new generation of quantum computers connected to it have also aimed at the international advanced level.

Superconducting quantum computer

(Photo source: Xinhua News Agency)

The quantum computing cloud platform is a new computing platform that combines quantum computing technology with the Internet cloud platform. It provides the public with a platform for remote access and use of quantum technology resources and services, including the selection of quantum bits (qubits), the operation of quantum logic gates, and the execution of corresponding quantum algorithms.

Similar to traditional cloud computing platforms, quantum computing cloud platforms can provide quantum computing resources and services to multiple users at the same time, thereby improving resource utilization and accelerating the development and application of quantum computing technology, allowing more people to participate in the research and development of quantum computing.

So, what is so magical about quantum computing cloud platforms, and why are scientists scrambling to study them?

Science fiction becomes reality: Quantum computing can be done at home

Whenever we talk about quantum computing, the scenes in science fiction often come to mind, which further stimulates everyone's curiosity about quantum computing. In fact, the reason why quantum computing sounds mysterious is mainly because it involves some concepts and principles that are completely different from classical computing, and has many puzzling and surprising characteristics.

In classical computing, computers use bits to represent states 0 or 1 to complete data analysis and calculations. Quantum computing uses quantum bits to represent the superposition of states 0 and 1. This superposition state gives quantum computers the unique ability to process information.

For example, when there are two quantum bits, a quantum computer can simultaneously process the four possibilities of |00⟩, |01⟩, |10⟩, and |11⟩, while a classical computer needs to consider each state one by one. This means that as the number of quantum bits N increases, the computing power of a quantum computer will grow rapidly in the form of 2 to the power of N, thus demonstrating a super computing power that is difficult to match with classical computing.

Quantum computing concept map

(Photo source: veer photo gallery)

However, the development of quantum computing is still in its infancy from the laboratory to the industry. Most of them are complex, expensive, and require professional researchers to maintain them carefully, so it is difficult to enter thousands of households in a short period of time. Even if the current mainstream physical schemes (such as superconducting quantum bits, optical quantum bits, and trapped ions) are adopted, the number of quantum bits in quantum computers is still very limited, and they can only show their advantages in certain specific algorithmic problems.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a communication bridge to connect "laboratories-industries-ordinary users" so that the three parties can jointly participate in the research and application of quantum computing and accelerate the development of quantum computing technology.

Fortunately, quantum computing based on the Internet cloud platform provides a bridge for such communication, thus opening up the path of "industry-university-research". Its emergence is like the rise of the World Wide Web in the 1990s, allowing countless ordinary users to participate in it, thus building a more active community ecology and gradually exploring the potential applications of quantum computing.

World Wide Web Diagram

(Photo source: veer photo gallery)

What is it for? Very useful

The emergence of quantum computing cloud platforms has provided convenience for researchers and ordinary users, allowing users to exploit the potential of quantum computing and explore new applications and algorithms. Let's take a look at its uses!

Quantum computing cloud platforms can be used for quantum simulation. Cloud platforms can be used to simulate the behavior of complex systems such as physical systems and molecular structures. This is of great significance for research in new drug design, materials science, and chemical reactions. For example, by simulating the interaction of molecules, scientists can develop new drugs more quickly and optimize the performance of materials.

It can also be used to optimize problems. Cloud platforms can solve some optimization problems that are very time-consuming in classical computing, such as the traveling salesman problem and logistics optimization. By taking advantage of quantum algorithms, faster and more efficient solutions can be provided, thereby improving route planning, resource allocation and other problems in daily life.

In addition, it can also be used for encryption and security. Quantum computing has a potential impact in the field of cryptography. Cloud platforms can be used to research and develop encryption algorithms that resist quantum computing attacks. This helps to improve the security of network communications and data transmission, and protect personal privacy and business secrets.

Encryption diagram

(Photo source: veer photo gallery)

For the general public, although they may not have extensive professional skills and experience, they can access quantum computing resources through cloud platforms and enjoy the benefits of related algorithms and applications. The cloud platform provides users with a simplified interface and tools that enable users to take advantage of the potential of quantum computing without having to build and maintain quantum computers themselves.

The correct way to open the quantum computing cloud platform

Since the quantum computing cloud platform is so good, how can we ordinary users use it? Similar to accessing a server in the cloud, the use of the quantum computing cloud platform also requires us to use personal device terminals and use the Internet to remotely access the quantum computing machine. In other words, ordinary users only need to click the mouse on their personal computers to access and use the legendary mysterious quantum computer to complete specific quantum algorithm tasks.

Cloud computing diagram

(Photo source: veer photo gallery)

Of course, the specific usage will vary with different quantum computing cloud platform service providers, just like when we use a computer, we choose a different operating system. Generally speaking, the use of quantum computing cloud platforms can be summarized in the following steps:

1. Registration and Login

2. Select computing resources and create tasks

According to the different algorithm tasks required, select the required quantum computing resources, including the number of quantum bits, the type and parameters of quantum gate operations, etc. Generally speaking, the more quantum bits there are, the more complex algorithm tasks can be run, but the error rate will also increase. Therefore, some platforms will provide different quantum computing resource options to meet different task requirements;

3. Write quantum algorithms and execute tasks

Ordinary users can use the development tools provided by the platform to write quantum algorithms. The platform usually also provides sample codes and algorithm cases to help everyone get started and understand how to use the quantum computing cloud platform. Once the quantum algorithm is written, the task submission and execution can be completed directly on the interactive interface provided by the platform;

4. Task progress and result acquisition

In order to check the execution status of the task, the quantum computing cloud platform can also provide real-time task monitoring tools to track the progress of the task, so as to help everyone better understand the execution process of the task. When the task is completed, we can obtain the calculation results from the platform, which usually includes the measurement results of quantum bits, the probability distribution of calculations, and the corresponding optimization results.

Therefore, the emergence of quantum computing cloud platforms provides ordinary users with the opportunity to access and utilize quantum computing resources, promoting the development and application of quantum computing technology. Ordinary users do not need to purchase and maintain expensive quantum computing equipment. After simple training, they can access and use quantum computing resources to perform complex quantum computing tasks.

Come and try different "styles"

At present, there are already some major quantum computing cloud platforms on the market. They are led by domestic and foreign technology companies and have their own unique quantum computing community ecosystems. The following are some of the well-known quantum cloud computing platforms and their respective unique advantages:

IBM Q Experience: As early as 2017, this quantum computing cloud service for free trial to the public appeared. It provides a complete set of quantum computing development tools, allowing users to freely write and execute the required algorithm tasks. At the same time, users can also access and use quantum computing resources through the online cloud platform or through qiskit in Python language.

IBM Q Experience

(Image credit: IBM Research/CC BY-ND 2.0)

Azure Quantum: In 2019, a fully open quantum computing cloud platform, Azure Quantum, also appeared. The platform can help users access and use quantum hardware from three different manufacturers, and supports the use of the open source quantum development kit (QDK), Azure classical computers, and a quantum simulator to adapt to different user task requirements.

Amazon Braket: This quantum computing cloud platform appeared in late 2019 and supports quantum algorithm development and testing using multiple programming languages ​​(such as Python and Qiskit). In addition, it also provides access ports to three well-known quantum backend devices, IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave, which represent three physical implementations of quantum computing, namely ion trap, superconducting quantum, and annealing quantum computing.

Amazon Braket

(Image source: Amazon)

In addition to the various "styles" abroad, a variety of quantum computing cloud platforms have also been launched in China, and more and more research institutions have joined the research and development of cloud platforms. Last week, at the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum Exhibition (Sci-Tech Expo), the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Science, the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tsinghua University demonstrated a new generation of quantum computing cloud platform called "Quafu" to the public, attracting widespread attention at home and abroad.

(Image source: Quafu official website)

Conclusion

The quantum computing cloud platform is a network platform that brings quantum computers into thousands of households. With the advancement of technology and the development of quantum computers, more quantum computing cloud platforms may appear in the future for ordinary users to choose from, and future cloud platforms will also have more powerful functions. Let us wait and see!