Fast simulation of quantum algorithms using circuit optimization

Gian Giacomo Guerreschi

doi:10.22331/q-2022-05-03-706

Fast simulation of quantum algorithms using circuit optimization

Intel Labs, Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Published:	2022-05-03, volume 6, page 706
Eprint:	arXiv:2010.09746v3
Doi:	https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2022-05-03-706
Citation:	Quantum 6, 706 (2022).

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Abstract

Classical simulators play a major role in the development and benchmark of quantum algorithms and practically any software framework for quantum computation provides the option of running the algorithms on simulators. However, the development of quantum simulators was substantially separated from the rest of the software frameworks which, instead, focus on usability and compilation. Here, we demonstrate the advantage of co-developing and integrating simulators and compilers by proposing a specialized compiler pass to reduce the simulation time for arbitrary circuits. While the concept is broadly applicable, we present a concrete implementation based on the Intel Quantum Simulator, a high-performance distributed simulator. As part of this work, we extend its implementation with additional functionalities related to the representation of quantum states. The communication overhead is reduced by changing the order in which state amplitudes are stored in the distributed memory, a concept analogous to the distinction between local and global qubits for distributed Schroedinger-type simulators. We then implement a compiler pass to exploit the novel functionalities by introducing special instructions governing data movement as part of the quantum circuit. Those instructions target unique capabilities of simulators and have no analogue in actual quantum devices. To quantify the advantage, we compare the time required to simulate random circuits with and without our optimization. The simulation time is typically halved.

Featured image: Effect of the compiler pass to optimize quantum circuits for simulation with Intel Quantum Simulator. The simulation time of random circuits on 35 qubits is reduced by about $40\%$. Datapoints represent the average over 20 random circuits and the vertical bars indicate one standard deviation.

Open-source repository of Intel Quantum Simulator: https://github.com/iqusoft/intel-qs

Popular summary

If you want to program a quantum computer, you do not need to be aware of its inner functioning since software frameworks will compile the code automatically. If you want to benchmark your quantum algorithm before actual execution, you can simulate it within the same software frameworks. To date, compilers and simulators have been implemented separately. Here, we propose an integrated approach that optimizes the circuit to speed-up its simulation. And you may save up to half of the simulation time without modifying your program.

We do so by extending both simulator and compiler: the former with a flexible way of representing quantum states, and the latter with a dedicated pass minimizing the communication overhead incurred during the simulation. Intel Quantum simulator is released open-source and the optimization algorithm provided as pseudocode.

With increasing interest in quantum computing technology, more time is spent running simulations. It is fundamental to reduce its footprint (time spent, and energy consumed), especially when no additional effort is required from the programmers. Expect backend-aware compiler passes becoming standard in your favorite software framework.

► BibTeX data

@article{Guerreschi2022fastsimulationof,
  doi = {10.22331/q-2022-05-03-706},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2022-05-03-706},
  title = {Fast simulation of quantum algorithms using circuit optimization},
  author = {Guerreschi, Gian Giacomo},
  journal = {{Quantum}},
  issn = {2521-327X},
  publisher = {{Verein zur F{\"{o}}rderung des Open Access Publizierens in den Quantenwissenschaften}},
  volume = {6},
  pages = {706},
  month = may,
  year = {2022}
}

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[1] Lakshita Aggarwal, Shelly Sachdeva, and Puneet Goswami, "Quantum healthcare computing using precision based granular approach", Applied Soft Computing 110458 (2023).

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