Neutral-atoms quantum computing firm Pasqal has launched a new open-source Python software library called Qadence that is intended to streamline the process of building and executing digital-analog quantum programs on interacting qubit systems, and accelerate quantum machine learning.
This is the latest effort to advance digital-analog quantum computing (DAQC), a hybrid approach that aims to combine the precision of digital quantum computing with the continuous control and interactions of analog quantum computing. Partners SEEQC and Nvidia, among others, have made recent announcements in a similar vein as the industry looks to close in on achieving early quantum advantage. Pasqal said its next-generation neutral-atoms quantum computers will be capable of natively executing digital-analog quantum algorithms.
The France-based company said Qadence stands out particularly in quantum machine learning applications with DAQC, boasting native symbolic parameters, integration with PyTorch automatic differentiation engine, and advanced parameter shift rules for higher-order differentiation on real quantum devices. Pascal said it provides developers with a simplified interface to accomplish the following:
- Easily construct analog and digital-analog quantum algorithms
- Seamlessly transition from simulations to real devices, such as Pasqal’s neutral atoms quantum computers
- Easily express complex interaction among qubits and readily incorporate them into efficient executions on simulator backends
- Translate certain types of analog or digital-analog operations into numerically efficient simulations similar to digital quantum circuits
- General and higher-order parameter shift rules for efficient differentiation of digital-analog quantum programs
“Qadence fills a gap in the current quantum software ecosystem by providing a user-friendly interface for the increasingly popular digital-analog quantum computing and accelerating the research in quantum machine learning leveraging this approach” says Mario Dagrada, VP of Quantum Software at Pasqal.
The company plans to augment the Qadence library by incorporating noise channels, tailored error mitigation techniques for interacting qubit systems, and additional digital-analog emulation modes.
Dan O’Shea has covered telecommunications and related topics including semiconductors, sensors, retail systems, digital payments and quantum computing/technology for over 25 years.