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Quantum computing is on the horizon. Already prototype machines exist and there is an increasing global push to
realise the full potential of quantum enhanced devices. The advantages associated with quantum computing,
principally the exponential speed-up of certain tasks, have been explored over the last 30 years and this is reflected in
the development of several different models for quantum computation: “gate-based” where quantum logic gates similar
to today's AND/OR gates perform the computation, “measurement-based” where a highly entangled initial state is
prepared and then through a sequence of measurements a computation is performed, and “adiabatic” approaches
where a given problem is encoded into a quantum model where the ground state corresponds to the solution. While
these models differ significantly in their implementation, they nevertheless are all are universal models for quantum
information processing, meaning that they can perform any computation. A significant road block to
commercially viable quantum computers can be related to their scalability. Far be it from a mere engineering issue, the
inherent fragility of quantum states means going beyond the small scale noisy prototypes available today to a useful
functioning quantum computer is a highly non-trivial task. A further significant issue is the energetic resources
necessary for a given experimental platform to perform a quantum algorithm. This necessitates a systematic study of
the thermodynamics of quantum computational models. The aim of this project is to identify the most
thermodynamically efficient model for quantum computation. By quantitatively assessing the energy requirements for
the coherent control of quantum systems, and by taking into account unavoidable environmental spoiling effects.
realise the full potential of quantum enhanced devices. The advantages associated with quantum computing,
principally the exponential speed-up of certain tasks, have been explored over the last 30 years and this is reflected in
the development of several different models for quantum computation: “gate-based” where quantum logic gates similar
to today's AND/OR gates perform the computation, “measurement-based” where a highly entangled initial state is
prepared and then through a sequence of measurements a computation is performed, and “adiabatic” approaches
where a given problem is encoded into a quantum model where the ground state corresponds to the solution. While
these models differ significantly in their implementation, they nevertheless are all are universal models for quantum
information processing, meaning that they can perform any computation. A significant road block to
commercially viable quantum computers can be related to their scalability. Far be it from a mere engineering issue, the
inherent fragility of quantum states means going beyond the small scale noisy prototypes available today to a useful
functioning quantum computer is a highly non-trivial task. A further significant issue is the energetic resources
necessary for a given experimental platform to perform a quantum algorithm. This necessitates a systematic study of
the thermodynamics of quantum computational models. The aim of this project is to identify the most
thermodynamically efficient model for quantum computation. By quantitatively assessing the energy requirements for
the coherent control of quantum systems, and by taking into account unavoidable environmental spoiling effects.
Publications
- Counterdiabatic control in the impulse regime
Eoin Carolan, Anthony Kiely, and Steve Campbell
Phys. Rev. A 105, 012605 (2022) - Commutativity and the emergence of classical objectivity
Eoghan Ryan, Eoin Carolan, Steve Campbell, and Mauro Paternostro
J. Phys. Commun. 6, 095005 (2022)
