National Quantum ICT testbed
National Quantum ICT testbed
The infrastructure offers researchers, students and industry, unique tools and resources for experimentation and education, allowing for cutting edge experimentation and the possibility to explore and develop applications and new equipment for quantum computing and networking. Currently it comprises: Three different quantum computing backends: 1) superconducting QPU, (2) spin-qubits QPU, (3) three quantum simulators of up to 34 qubits. A quantum computing testbed dedicated for new technical developments, where both academics and industry can test new solutions. A quantum network simulator with detailed physical modeling of individual components, making it the only testbed of its kind for realistic quantum network experimentation.
Infrastructure and User Services
1. Equipment/facilities:
Quantum computing infrastructure:
- Two full stack quantum computers accessible in the cloud, including Quantum hardware (quantum processor and qubits), Classical infrastructure (control systems, pre/post-processing), Cloud interface (APIs, SDKs), Software stack (quantum operating system, algorithms), Networking and security infrastructure.
- One quantum computer simulator connected to HPC node at SURF
- One full stack quantum computing testing bed for research and technical developments
Quantum networking:
- One operational quantum network simulator
- Quantum network nodes in development to be incorporated in the future quantum internet testbed
2. Services to users:
Users can run their own quantum algorithms on simulators or hardware backends, exploring the capabilities of quantum computing and networking. Quantum Inspire enables intuitive programming, execution, and analysis of quantum computing algorithms, with web access and SDK integration. The quantum computing testing bed for research and technical developments allows users to develop new quantum computing components such as quantum chips, control equipment, cryogenic electronics, For quantum networking, users can engage with pre-built applications like QKD and teleportation or develop custom protocols using the Quantum Network Explorer’s Application Development Kit (QNE-ADK).
Examples/description of the type of research
The quantum computing infrastructure facilitates research in a wide array of fields, from fundamental physics to practical applications in healthcare, energy, materials science, and artificial intelligence. By providing access to quantum resources remotely, researchers in various disciplines will be able to experiment, simulate, and solve problems that were previously intractable, accelerating scientific discovery and innovation across industries. Within quantum networking, researchers can explore the development of application and use cases. It also provides computer science research for quantum technologies and security research for assessing practical security of quantum network technologies.
The quantum internet infrastructure will enable research that will contribute to develop new capabilities in secure communication and distributed computing. It will also facilitate research towards the development of secure access to remote quantum computers, which in turn will allow Quantum Computer users to run algorithms without revealing sensitive data, and link quantum sensors across locations for enhanced precision in scientific and navigational applications.
Furthermore, full-stack quantum computer and networking platforms are important as a testbed and development facility for future advancements and improvements of quantum hardware, in scaling, error correction and mitigation, (hybrid) architecture, system and network software and more.
How to access the infrastructure?
- Both quantum computing and quantum networks simulators are virtually accessible.
- The two quantum computers have remote access.
- The quantum computer testbed is physically accessible.
- The future quantum network testbed will have both remote and physical access.