Method, system, computer program and computer-readable storage medium for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system

Abstract

A method for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system comprising hardware devices and one of the hardware devices is an ion trap (2) is provided, - providing, by an application layer, at least one request for an operation of at least one of the hardware devices of a kernel layer, - transmitting the at least one request, by at leas t one system call, to the kernel layer, - collecting, by a scheduler, the at least one system call, - managing and controlling, by the scheduler, the at least one resource of the at least one hardware device for the operation such that a process is performed by and / or on the ion trap (2). Further, a system (1), a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium is provided.

Description

[0001] P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 1 - Description Method, system, computer program and computer-readable storage medium for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system The present disclosure relates to a method, a system, a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system. An object to be solved is to provide a method, with which processes within a quantum computer system using trapped ions can be automated regardless of an architecture of a used ion trap. Furthermore, a system, a computer program and a computer-readable storage medium for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system are to be provided. The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments, implementations and further developments are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims. The method for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system is described. The quantum computer system comprises hardware devices and one of the hardware devices is an ion trap. In particular, the hardware devices are configured to operate the ion trap and to perform a quantum calculation with the ion trap. Exemplarily, the hardware devices are used to confine at least two ions in the ion trap and / or to modify an electronic state of the at least P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 2 - two ions, in particular to perform a quantum calculation with the at least two ions. In particular, the ion trap can be a Paul trap, a linear ion trap, a surface ion trap and / or a multi-layer ion trap. Exemplarily, the ion trap comprises a set of electrodes. For example, a radio frequency, RF, voltage is applied to the electrodes such that a time-varying electric field is provided configured to confine and / or to modify at least two trapped ions. For example, a magnetic gradient is provided to the at least two trapped ions. Exemplarily, the magnetic gradient is provided by a permanent magnet arrangement. This is that the at least two trapped ions are individually addressable due to the magnetic gradient. Exemplarily, the method is performed within a framework of an operating system. The at least one resource can be a system resource. The system resources comprise, for example, all physical devices, such as the hardware devices, and / or all virtual components, such as software applications of the quantum computer system. According to at least one embodiment of the method, at least one request for an operation of at least one of the hardware devices of a kernel layer is provided by an application layer. Exemplarily, the operating system comprises the application layer and the kernel layer. Exemplarily, the application layer is configured for executing software applications. This is that the application layer consists, for example, of a plurality of software P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 3 - applications, with which a user can interact with. At least some of the software applications can have a graphical user interface, GUI. In particular, the at least one request is provided via the GUI. Exemplarily, the kernel layer is configured for managing and controlling the at least one resource and / or providing services to the application layer. Exemplarily, the kernel layer is configured for at least one of a memory management, a process management, an I / O management and a device driver management. In particular, the operation, which is comprised in the request, can be performed via the kernel layer. For example, the hardware devices are arranged within a hardware layer, which is in particular comprised in the kernel layer. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the at least one request is transmitted by at least one system call to the kernel layer. For example, an interface between the kernel layer and the application layer comprises the at least one system call, in particular, a plurality of system calls. The system call is, for example, configured to provide a communication between the application layer and the kernel layer and vice versa. The system call is configured for the communication, in particular, regardless of the hardware devices or the software applications. For example, the system call is an application programming interface. This is that the system calls can be advantageously adapted to the needs of the quantum computer system accordingly. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 4 - According to at least one embodiment of the method, the at least one system call is collected by a scheduler. The scheduler is, for example, configured for determining an order and / or a timing of the operation to be executed by the at least one hardware device. For example, a plurality of requests, each being characteristic for an operation of at least one of the hardware devices is provided by the application layer. The request can be characteristic for a plurality of operations of more than one of the hardware devices. The scheduler determines, for example, an order and / or a timing of the operations. For example, the scheduler comprises a plurality of subsystems wherein each of the subsystems is configured to process the request depending on a corresponding information. In particular, each of the subsystems is configured to perform a scheduling of the operations depending on the corresponding information. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the at least one resource of the at least one hardware device is managed and controlled by the scheduler for the operation such that a process is performed by and / or on the ion trap. This is that the scheduler manages and controls the at least one resource dependent on the determined order and / or the determined timing of the operation, in particular the operations. The scheduler manages and controls the operations in particular dependent on the information, being characteristic for at least one of a real-time control, a resource management, a task scheduling, time constraints, a prioritization and / or a preemption, and a synchronization and / or an event handling. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 5 - Exemplarily, the user provides the request via the GUI to a respective software application, and the request is characteristic for using an ablation laser with a main purpose to load ions inside the ion trap. Exemplarily, in the GUI the user operates a button, e.g. "load ion(s)", and particularly specifies a number of ions. Subsequently, the request is transmitted by the system call, being collected by the scheduler. The scheduler is in particular configured to prioritize this system call comprising the request. Exemplarily, the scheduler determines an optimal spot in time in an execution timeline of the operating system, e.g. determines that an optimal spot is open int the execution timeline, the scheduler places the request in the execution line, accordingly, such that a task corresponding to the request is to be executed, embedded in a rest of the execution line of the operating system. Subsequently, the request can be passed through several layers of the operating system. Exemplarily, the request goes through an environment class that comprises a set operations that handle a software development kit, SDK, of the corresponding hardware device, in this specific example the ablation laser. The request can subsequently be parsed to an experiment class that can execute an action corresponding to the request to a physical layer. Subsequently, an ion is loaded to the trap, corresponding to the request, particularly. The whole process is, for example, logged in a database where a monitor system is placed. Therefore, another request can use information from the database to take an action upon failure. The process can be displayed in a time series database for overview purposes P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 6 - The method described herein above is, exemplarily, performed in the order indicated. The method described herein above is, exemplarily, a computer implemented method. An idea of the method described herein is, inter alia, to use a method wherein the application layer comprises a collection of computer programs of the application layer and the kernel layer that manages, i.e. automatizes and allocates, system resources of a trapped ion quantum computer. This is, with the proposed method, advantageously, an automatized interface between the user characterised by the application layer and the hardware characterised by the hardware layer of the kernel layer is achieved. According to at least one embodiment of the method, after managing and controlling the at least one hardware resource, at least one response of the at least one hardware device is received by the scheduler. For example, the operation is performed by the at least one of the hardware devices dependent on the scheduler. During the operation and / or after the operation, measurement values of the respective hardware device can be acquired. The measurement values are comprised, for example, by the response. According to at least one embodiment of the method, after managing and controlling the at least one hardware resource, the managing and controlling dependent on the at least one response is adjusted. In particular, the managing and controlling of the at least one hardware device is adjusted dependent on the acquired measurement values. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 7 - For example, it is possible that the scheduler receives more than one response from different hardware devices. This is that a feedback loop is advantageously implemented due to the response to the operation. In particular, in response to the adjusted managing and controlling, one or more further responses can be received by the scheduler till a predetermined threshold is reached. Thus, it can be advantageously ensured that the operation is correctly carried out. In particular, the scheduler is configured to determine at least one error correction command dependent on the response using, for example, quantum error correction and / or error mitigation. The adjusting is in particular dependent on the error correction command. According to at least one embodiment of the method, at least one result of the at least one hardware device is transmitted to the application layer by the scheduler. In particular, the result is provided to at least one software application. The at least one result can be analyzed and / or displayed via the GUI of the at least one software application. For example, the at least one result is transmitted from the kernel layer by at least one further system call to the application layer. In particular, the result is characteristic for a quantum computation of the quantum computer system. According to at least one embodiment of the method, managing and controlling of the hardware resource of the at least one P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 8 - hardware device further comprises, determining, by the scheduler, a priority of the at least one system call. According to at least one embodiment of the method, managing and controlling the hardware resource of the at least one hardware device further comprises, managing and controlling the at least one hardware resource of the at least one hardware device based on the priority. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer comprises at least one compiler being configured to translate input data into machine readable data configured to be executed by the at least one hardware device. In particular, the user provides the input data to the GUI of the software application in the application layer. The input data is, for example, characteristic for a programming language, in particular software code, and / or for a command for operating the hardware device. The input data is exemplarily converted by the compiler to the machine readable data. This machine readable data is provided via the system call and the scheduler to the kernel layer and the corresponding hardware device. In particular, the input data are characteristic for the request. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer comprises at least one calibration routine. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer comprises at least one optimization routine. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 9 - Advantageously, with this routines, the ion trap can be operated in particular precise. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer comprises at least one hardware agnostic compiler being ion trap agnostic. The hardware agnostic compiler is characteristic for a compiler which generates machine readable data that can run on multiple hardware devices without requiring modifications or optimizations specific to the specific hardware device. This is that the hardware agnostic compiler exemplarily generates machine readable data being independent of the hardware device. Advantageously, this is that operations can be provided to several hardware devices with little or no modification. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer comprises at least one hardware specific compiler. The hardware specific compiler is characteristic for a compiler which generates machine readable data that can run for a particular hardware device and cannot run efficiently on other hardware devices. By using hardware agnostic compilers and hardware specific compiler, the quantum computing system can be advantageously operated efficiently. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the application layer and the kernel layer are configured to compile, automatize and calibrate the request such that a process is performed by and / or on the ion trap in real time. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 10 - In particular, the operation happens in real time in the sense that the request from an application layer and / or the response from the kernel layer are each characteristic for a signal existing within a predetermined time and are each processed accordingly. With the method proposed, an observation of each of the signals can be guaranteed. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the hardware devices comprise at least one of a laser, a wavemeter, an acousto-optic modulator, an electro-optic modulator, a detector, an signal generator, an amplifier, a power supply, a piezo controller, a motor. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the ion trap is a processing unit of the quantum computer system. Furthermore, a system for managing and controlling of at least one resource of a quantum computer system is described. The system is configured to perform the method described herein. Therefore, all features and embodiments disclosed in connection with the method are also disclosed in connection with the system and vice versa. According to at least one embodiment, the system comprises an application layer and a kernel layer. The application layer and the kernel layer communicate with one another via system calls from the application layer to the kernel layer and with further system calls from the kernel layer to the application layer. According to at least one embodiment, the system comprises a scheduler. The scheduler is configured to collect all the system calls and the further system calls. P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 11 - This is, advantageously, that the scheduler is a modular entity that can act in the application layer and / or in the kernel layer. In addition a computer program is specified comprising instruction which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, causes the computer program to execute the method described herein. Further, a computer readable storage medium is specified on which the computer program described herein is stored. In the following, the method and the system are explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the associated Figures. Figure 1 shows a flowchart of the method according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 shows a system which is configured to perform the method according to an exemplary embodiment. Elements that are identical, similar or have the same effect are given the same reference signs in the Figures. The Figures and the proportions of the elements shown in the figures are not to be regarded as true to scale. Rather, individual elements may be shown exaggeratedly large for better representability and / or for better comprehensibility. Method stage S1 according to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1 comprises that at least one request for an operation of at least one hardware device of a kernel layer is provided P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 12 - by an application layer. Exemplarily, the application layer comprises at least one software application having a GUI. Software code and / or commands for operating the hardware device can be provided to the GUI being in particular characteristic for the request. The application layer comprises at least one compiler being configured to translate the input data into machine readable data configured to be executed by the hardware device. The request is subsequently transmitted in method stage S2 by at least one system call to the kernel layer. In method stage S3, the system call is collected by a scheduler. The scheduler can be an API. Further, the scheduler can comprise a plurality of subsystems. Each of the subsystems can process the request depending on a corresponding information. Each information can be characteristic to a thread of the scheduler. Exemplarily, each thread is characteristic for an operation that are to be scheduled by the scheduler. The threads can be processed in particular independently from one another. The scheduler exemplarily comprises, inter alia, a signal processing and control thread, a server thread, a monitoring thread, a calibration thread and / or a data analysis thread. At least some of the threads are connected to a queue and / or a database. In method stage S4, the scheduler manages and controls at least one resource of the hardware device such that a process P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 13 - is performed by and / or on an ion trap 2. In particular, the threads in the scheduler can interact with one another and process the request such that the operation is performed by the hardware device such that the process is performed by and / or on an ion trap 2. The process is, for example, characteristic for confining and / or manipulating at least one ion within the ion trap 2. In particular, the schedules manages and controls a plurality of resources of a plurality of hardware devices, dependent on the request, in order to perform the process. Exemplarily, the scheduler automatically manages and controls the resources of at least two of a laser, a wavemeter, an acousto-optic modulator, an electro-optic modulator, a detector, a signal generator, an amplifier, a power supply, a piezo controller, a motor. In particular, the at least two hardware devices are required for performing the process. The system 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2 has an application layer, a kernel layer, and a scheduler comprised by a quantum computer system. The system 1 comprises hardware devices as well as computer programs. The computer programs being software applications, in particular with a GUI, are part of the application layer. Further computer programs and the hardware devices are part of the kernel layer. The quantum computer system comprises an ion trap 2 as a processing unit of the quantum computer system located within a chamber 3. The ion trap 2 is connected to external components of the quantum computer system through the chamber 3 by a plurality of connections 4. For example, the P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 14 - connections 4 connect the ion trap 2 with electronic devices 5 and a classical computer 6. The electronic devices 5 comprises, exemplarily, a laser, a wavemeter, an acousto-optic modulator, an electro-optic modulator, a detector, an signal generator, an amplifier, a power supply, a piezo controller, a motor, analog to digital converters, signal generators such as radio frequency generators, microwave signal generators, low-frequency signal generators and / or direct current signal generators. The electronic devices 5 can be also partially arranged within the chamber 3. The chamber 3 can be an ultra-high vacuum chamber, an extreme-high vacuum chamber and / or a cryostat. The classical computer 6 is configured, for example, to provide and receive input data. Exemplarily, the application layer and part of the kernel layer are part of the classical computer 6. In particular, the electronic devices 5, the classical computer 6 and the chamber 3 are part of the hardware devices. This is that with the method provided herein above, an operating system is provided for running the quantum computer system. Exemplarily, the ion trap 2 is provided with a permanent magnet arrangement which is configured to establish a magnetic gradient to the trapped ions of the ion trap 2. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments by their description. Rather, the invention encompasses any new P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 15 - feature as well as any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or combination itself is not explicitly indicated in the claims or exemplary embodiments.

[0002] P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 16 - Reference signs 1 system 2 ion trap 3 chamber 4 connections 5 electronic devices 6 classical computer S1…S4 method stages

Claims

P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 17 - Claims 1. Method for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system comprising hardware devices and one of the hardware devices is an ion trap (2), - providing, by an application layer, at least one request for an operation of at least one of the hardware devices of a kernel layer, wherein the application layer comprises at least one hardware agnostic compiler being ion trap (2) agnostic, and the application layer comprises at least one hardware specific compiler, - transmitting the at least one request, by at least one system call, to the kernel layer, - collecting, by a scheduler, the at least one system call, - managing and controlling, by the scheduler, the at least one resource of the at least one hardware device for the operation such that a process is performed by and / or on the ion trap (2), wherein the process is characteristic for confining and / or manipulating at least one ion within the ion trap (2).

2. Method according to claim 1, after managing and controlling the at least one resource, - receiving, by the scheduler, at least one response of the at least one hardware device, and - adjusting the managing and controlling dependent on the at least one response.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, - transmitting, by the scheduler, at least one result of the at least one hardware device to the application layer.P2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 18 - 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein managing and controlling the resource of the at least one hardware device further comprises: - determining, by the scheduler, a priority of the at least one system call, and - managing and controlling the at least one resource of the at least one hardware device based on the priority.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein - the application layer comprises at least one compiler being configured to translate input data into machine readable data configured to be executed by the at least one hardware device.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein - the application layer comprises at least one calibration routine, and / or - the application layer comprises at least one optimization routine.

7. Method according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein - the application layer and the kernel layer are configured to compile, automatize and calibrate the request such that a process is performed by and / or on the ion trap (2) in real time.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein - the hardware devices comprise at least one of a laser, a wavemeter, an acousto-optic modulator, an electro-optic modulator, a detector, an signal generator, an amplifier, a power supply, a piezo controller, a motor.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, whereinP2023,0810 WO N June 11, 2024 - 19 - - the ion trap (2) is a processing unit of the quantum computer system.

10. System (1) for managing and controlling at least one resource of a quantum computer system comprising hardware devices and one of the hardware devices is an ion trap (2), wherein the system (1) is configured to perform the method according to one of the preceding claims.

11. System (1) according to claim 10, comprising - an application layer, - a kernel layer, and - a scheduler.

12. Computer program comprising instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer program to execute the method according to one of the claims 1 to 9.

13. Computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to claim 12 is stored.

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