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A Framework for the Design and Realization of Alternative Superconducting Quantum Architectures

Jagatheesan Kunasaikaran, Kevin Mato, Robert Wille

TL;DR

The paper addresses the challenge that superconducting hardware is typically designed around physical constraints, which can degrade circuit fidelity when implementing algorithms. It proposes a modular software framework that automates the design and realization of application-specific architectures by integrating architecture generation, physical layout mapping, and geometry optimization, with a Python-based reference implementation and Qiskit Metal tooling. The framework enables push-button end-to-end design, bridging architecture design and physical fabrication while remaining extensible to new methods. Its practical significance lies in reducing SWAP overhead, improving fidelity, and accelerating exploration of customized superconducting quantum architectures.

Abstract

Superconducting quantum hardware architectures have been designed by considering the physical constraints of the underlying physics. These general-purpose architectures leave room for customization and optimization that can be exploited with alternative architectures specific to the quantum applications that will be executed on the quantum hardware. However, the corresponding design steps are hardly integrated yet and still rely heavily on manual labor. In this work, we provide a software framework that aims at providing a foundation to address this drawback. To this end, we first review the design of superconducting quantum hardware architectures and, afterwards, propose a cohesive framework encapsulating the design flow of an application-specific quantum hardware architecture. The resulting framework integrates high-level architecture generation optimized for a quantum application, the physical layout of the architecture, as well as optimization of the layout in a methodical manner. The framework with a reference implementation is available via https://github.com/cda-tum/dasqa under an open-source license.

A Framework for the Design and Realization of Alternative Superconducting Quantum Architectures

TL;DR

The paper addresses the challenge that superconducting hardware is typically designed around physical constraints, which can degrade circuit fidelity when implementing algorithms. It proposes a modular software framework that automates the design and realization of application-specific architectures by integrating architecture generation, physical layout mapping, and geometry optimization, with a Python-based reference implementation and Qiskit Metal tooling. The framework enables push-button end-to-end design, bridging architecture design and physical fabrication while remaining extensible to new methods. Its practical significance lies in reducing SWAP overhead, improving fidelity, and accelerating exploration of customized superconducting quantum architectures.

Abstract

Superconducting quantum hardware architectures have been designed by considering the physical constraints of the underlying physics. These general-purpose architectures leave room for customization and optimization that can be exploited with alternative architectures specific to the quantum applications that will be executed on the quantum hardware. However, the corresponding design steps are hardly integrated yet and still rely heavily on manual labor. In this work, we provide a software framework that aims at providing a foundation to address this drawback. To this end, we first review the design of superconducting quantum hardware architectures and, afterwards, propose a cohesive framework encapsulating the design flow of an application-specific quantum hardware architecture. The resulting framework integrates high-level architecture generation optimized for a quantum application, the physical layout of the architecture, as well as optimization of the layout in a methodical manner. The framework with a reference implementation is available via https://github.com/cda-tum/dasqa under an open-source license.
Paper Structure (14 sections, 1 equation, 5 figures)

This paper contains 14 sections, 1 equation, 5 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Superconducting Quantum Computing Architectures and Coupling Constraints
  3. Superconducting Quantum Computing Architectures
  4. Satisfying Coupling Constraints
  5. Design and Realization of Alternative Architectures
  6. Application-specific Quantum Hardware Architecture
  7. Physical Design of Quantum Hardware Architecture
  8. Drawbacks and Contributions
  9. Proposed Framework
  10. Overview of the Framework
  11. Implementation of the Framework
  12. Using the Framework
  13. Extending the Framework
  14. Conclusion

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Coupling graph for the ibmq_lima quantum device
  • Figure 2: Satisfying coupling constraints
  • Figure 3: Application-specific quantum hardware architecture
  • Figure 4: Physical layout of high-level architecture
  • Figure 5: Design flow of framework

Theorems & Definitions (6)

  • Example 1
  • Example 2
  • Example 3
  • Example 4
  • Example 5
  • Example 6