Quantum computing hardware in the cloud : should a computational chemist care?

Rossi, Alessandro and Baity, Paul G. and Schäfer, Vera M. and Weides, Martin (2021) Quantum computing hardware in the cloud : should a computational chemist care? International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 121 (14). e26688. ISSN 0020-7608 (https://doi.org/10.1002/qua.26688)

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Abstract

Within the last decade much progress has been made in the experimental realization of quantum computing hardware based on a variety of physical systems. Rapid progress has been fuelled by the conviction that sufficiently powerful quantum machines will herald enormous computational advantages in many fields, including chemical research. A quantum computer capable of simulating the electronic structures of complex molecules would be a game changer for the design of new drugs and materials. Given the potential implications of this technology, there is a need within the chemistry community to keep abreast with the latest developments as well as becoming involved in experimentation with quantum prototypes. To facilitate this, here we review the types of quantum computing hardware that have been made available to the public through cloud services. We focus on three architectures, namely superconductors, trapped ions and semiconductors. For each one we summarize the basic physical operations, requirements and performance. We discuss to what extent each system has been used for molecular chemistry problems and highlight the most pressing hardware issues to be solved for a chemistry-relevant quantum advantage to eventually emerge.

ORCID iDs

Rossi, Alessandro ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7935-7560, Baity, Paul G., Schäfer, Vera M. and Weides, Martin;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:76316
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    15 July 2021
    Published
    6 May 2021
    Published Online
    19 April 2021
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:04 May 2021 15:50
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 13:04
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/76316
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