Atos announces Q-score, the only universal metrics to assess quantum performance and superiority

Paris, December four, 2020

Atos introduces “Q-score”, the initially universal quantum metrics, applicable to all programmable quantum processors. Atos’ Q-score actions a quantum system’s efficiency at dealing with real-existence difficulties, these which are not able to be solved by regular desktops, fairly than just measuring its theoretical performance. Q-score reaffirms Atos’ determination to supply early and concrete gains of quantum computing. About the previous five several years, Atos has become a pioneer in quantum purposes as a result of its participation in industrial and academic partnerships and funded tasks, performing hand-in-hand with industrials to produce use-situations which will be able to be accelerated by quantum computing.

“Faced with the emergence of a myriad of processor technologies and programming ways, businesses looking to make investments in quantum computing require a trusted metrics to support them choose the most effective route for them. Staying hardware-agnostic, Q-score is an objective, easy and fair metrics which they can depend on,” reported Elie Girard, Atos CEO. “Since the launch of ‘Atos Quantum’ in 2016, the initially quantum computing marketplace software in Europe, our purpose has remained the similar: advance the improvement of marketplace and exploration purposes, and pave the way to quantum superiority.”

What does Q-score measure?

Now the variety of qubits (quantum units) is the most typical determine of benefit for assessing the performance of a quantum program. Having said that, qubits are unstable and vastly fluctuate in top quality (speed, balance, connectivity, etcetera.) from one particular quantum know-how to yet another (these kinds of as supraconducting, trapped ions, silicon and photonics), making it an imperfect benchmark instrument. By focusing on the means to remedy properly-acknowledged combinatorial optimization difficulties, Atos Q-score will offer exploration centers, universities, firms and technological leaders with express, trusted, objective and comparable effects when fixing real-entire world optimization difficulties.

Q-score actions the precise performance of quantum processors when fixing an optimization difficulty, representative of the in the vicinity of-expression quantum computing era (NISQ – Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum). To offer a body of reference for comparing performance scores and maintain uniformity, Q-score relies on a conventional combinatorial optimization difficulty, the similar for all assessments (the Max-Reduce Issue, equivalent to the properly-acknowledged TSP – Travelling Salesman Issue, see beneath). The score is calculated dependent on the greatest variety of variables in these kinds of a difficulty that a quantum know-how can improve (ex: 23 variables = 23 Q-score or Qs).

Atos will manage the publication of a annually list of the most impressive quantum processors in the entire world dependent on Q-score. Thanks in 2021, the initially report will incorporate precise self-assessments furnished by manufacturers.

Based on an open up obtain computer software deal, Q-score is designed on three pillars:

• Application driven: Q-score is the only metrics program dependent on in the vicinity of-expression available quantum algorithms and actions a quantum system’s potential to remedy functional operational difficulties
• Openness and relieve of use: Universal and no cost, Q-score gains from Atos’ know-how-neutral solution. Its computer software deal, including instruments and methodology, does not require heavy computation energy to calculate the metrics
• Objectiveness and reliability: Atos brings together a hardware-agnostic, know-how-agnostic solution with a sturdy expertise in algorithm design and optimization obtained performing with main marketplace consumers and know-how leaders in the quantum field​. The methodology applied to establish Q-score will be built community and open up to assessment.

A no cost computer software package, which enables Q-score to be run on any processor will be available in Q1 2021. Atos invitations all manufacturers to run Q-score on their know-how and publish their effects.

Many thanks to the sophisticated qubit simulation abilities of the Atos Quantum Discovering Machine (Atos QLM), its impressive quantum simulator, Atos is able to calculate Q-score estimates for many platforms. These estimates acquire into account the features publicly furnished by the manufacturers. Final results range close to a Q-score of fifteen Qs, but progress is swift, with an estimated normal Q-score dating from one particular calendar year back in the spot of ten Qs, and an estimated projected normal Q-score dating one particular calendar year from now to be over twenty Qs.

Q-score has been reviewed by the Atos Quantum Advisory Board, a team of international gurus, mathematicians and physicists authorities in their fields, which met on
December four, 2020.