Method, system, computer program and computer-readable storage medium for controlling IONS of an ion trap for performing a quantum computation

Abstract

A method for controlling ions of an ion trap (2) for performing a quantum computation is specified, comp rising: - providing, to a compiler, process information characteristic for the quantum computation, - determining, by the compiler, an architecture of the ion trap (2), - determining, by the compiler, at least two zones of the ion trap (2) being different from one another dependent on the architecture, - determining, by the compiler, a bus of ions dependent on the process information and the determined at least two zones, - determining, by the compiler, operational instructions dependent on the process information and the bus of ions configured to be provided to the ion trap (2) for controlling the ions. Further, a system, a computer program and a compute r-readable storage medium are specified.

Description

[0001] P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -1 - Description METHOD, SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER-REBALDEA STORAGE MEDIUM FOR CONTROLLING IONS OF AN ION TRAP FOR PERFORMING A QUANTUM COMPUTATIONThe present disclosure relates to a method, a syste m, acomputer program and a computer-readable storage me dium forcontrolling ions of an ion trap for performing a qu antumcomputation. An objectto be solved isto provide a method with which theions trapped by all types of ion trap architectures can becontrolled in a particularly automated manner. This meansthat with the proposed method the corresponding ion traps canbe automated regardless of the architecture of used iontraps. Furthermore, a system, a computer program, a nd acomputer-readable storage medium for managing and c ontrollingatleastone resource ofa quantum computersystem are to be provided.The object is solved by the subject matter of the i ndependentclaims. Advantageous embodiments, implementations a nd furtherdevelopments are the subject matter of the respecti vedependentclaims. The method forcontrolling ionsofan ion trap for performinga quantum computation is described. The ion trap is , forexample, part of a quantum computer system. The qua ntumcomputer system is in particular configured to oper ate theion trap. Exemplarily, the ion trap is configured t o trap,confine and / ormodifyatleasttwo ionsin the ion trap, P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -2 -exemplarily to perform quantum computations with th e at leasttwo ions.Exemplarily, the ion trap comprises a set of electr odes. Forexample,a radio frequency,RF,voltage isapplied to atleast some of the electrodes such that a time-varyi ngelectric field is provided that is configured to tr ap,confine and / or modify the at least two trapped ions . Forexample, a direct current, DC, voltage is applied t o at leastsome of the other electrodes such that a static ele ctricfield is provided that is configured to trap, confi ne and / ormodifyatleasttwo trapped ions.For example, a magnetic gradient is provided to the at leasttwo trapped ions. Exemplarily, the magnetic gradien t isprovided by a permanent magnet arrangement and / or a nelectromagnet arrangement. This is that the at leas t twotrapped ions are individually addressable due to th e magneticgradient.For example, the ion trap can be of a first type or a secondtype different from the second type. The first type is, forexample, characteristic for a microtrap architectur e.Dimensions of the electrodes in microtrap architect ures arein particular on the scale of micrometres. The elec trodes inmicrotrap architectures are exemplarily provided an d / orintegrated on a substrate. The substrate is, for ex ample, asemiconductor substrate. The second type is, for ex ample,characteristic for a macrotrap architecture. Dimens ions ofthe electrodes in macrotrap architectures are in pa rticularon the scale of millimetres to centimetres. Particu larly, thedimensions of the electrodes of the macrotrap archi tecture P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -3 -are larger than the dimensions of the electrodes of themicrotrap architecture, exemplarily, larger by at l east oneorderofmagnitude ortwo ordersofmagnitude.The dimensions ofthe electrodesare,forexample,characteristic fora trapping volume ofthe corresponding ion trap.The electrodesin microtrap architectures are exemplarily blade el ectrodes.Exemplarily, the ion trap is a modular ion trap. Th e modularion trap comprises, for example, at least two, part icularly aplurality,ofmodules.Each ofthe modulesis,for example,configured to host a quantum register, in particula r, exactlyone quantum register. The quantum register comprise s a set ofat least two ions. The set of the at least two trap ped ionsis in particular collectively operated during the q uantumcomputation. An operation on at least some of the t rappedions, in particular on the individual quantum regis ters, isexemplarily performed using quantum gates. The quan tum gatesare configured to modify,particularlymanipulate, the stateof the trapped ions in the respective quantum regis ter.For the microtrap architecture, the modules are for med ofseparate regions on the same substrate. In particul ar, theseperate regions are spaced apart from one another. It ispossible thatmore than two ion trapsofthe first type canbe connected to one another, each forming a module. In thiscase,the modulescan each comprise atleasttwo,particularly a plurality, of sub-modules located on the samesubstrate. For the macrotrap architecture, the modu les areformed of separate regions within the same ion trap . It ispossible that more than two ion traps of the second type canbe connected to one another, each forming a module. In thiscase,the modulescan each comprise atleasttwo, P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -4 -particularly a plurality, of sub-modules located at the sameion trap.Exemplarily, the magnetic gradient is provided to a ll of themodules and / or a sperate magnetic gradient is provi ded to atleast some of the modules. For example, each of the at leastsome modulesoreach one ofallofthe modulescan be provided with one individualmagneticgradient.According to at least one embodiment of the method, processinformation characteristic for the quantum computat ion isprovided to a compiler. The compiler is, for exampl e,configured to convertthe processinformation into machine readable data configured to be executed bythe ion trap.Inparticular, the ion trap is configured to be a proc essingunit of the quantum computer system. The quantum co mputersystem uses quantum bits particularly represented b y thetrapped ions. The compiler is configured to convert theprocessinformation into the machine readable data oranintermediate representation of the machine readable data thatcan be executed bythe processing unit.The process information is, for example, characteri stic for aprogramming language, in particular software code s uch as asource code.Particularly,the processinformation is,forexample, characteristic for a set of instructions b ased onwhich the ion trap is operated to perform the quant umcomputation. For example, the process information c omprisesatleastone quantum gate. The compileris,forexample,characteristicfora computerprogram that is comprised by a computer-readable st oragemedium of a computer device. The computer device is , for P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -5 -example, a classical computer device using classica l bits,which can be in one oftwo states,0 or1.According to at least one embodiment of the method, anarchitecture of the ion trap is determined by the c ompiler.In particular, the determination is performed autom atically.The compilerexemplarilydeterminesifthe trapped ionsaretrapped by the ion trap of the first type or the io n trap ofthe second type. In particular, the compiler determ ines ifthe trapped ions are trapped by the microscopic arc hitectureorthe macroscopicarchitecture.It is possible that the compiler is configured, aft er thedetermination ofthe architecture orthe ion trap, to verifythe architecture. The verification can comprise a q uery whichis particularly provided to a user. The query can c omprise ifthe determined architecture is correct or not corre ct. Themethod iscontinued,forexample,dependenton the verification.According to at least one embodiment of the method, at leasttwo zones of the ion trap are determined by the com piler,wherein the at least two zones are different from o ne anotherdependent on the architecture. For example, each zo ne cancomprise one quantum register. Exemplarily, each zo ne isconnected to at least one neighboring zone, particu larly witha connection. Connected zones, in particular the re spectiveconnections,are exemplarilyconfigured to provide a path forthe trapped ions. In particular, the trapped ions i n one ofthe zonesare movable to anotherneighboring zone, particularlyvia the connection,e.g.the provided path.For example,atleastone ion ormore than two ionsof therespective quantum register of one of the zones can be moved P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -6 -to a quantum register of another of the zones, part icularlybythe connection.For example, each zone has a main extension directi on. Themain extension direction is, for example, character istic fora trapping axis along which the trapped ions are ar ranged foreach quantum register. Exemplarily,the zonesare arranged linearlyalong oneanother for the macrotrap architecture. In particul ar, themain extension directions of all zones are parallel to oneanother for the macrotrap architecture. Exemplarily , thezonesare arranged non-linearlyforthe microtraparchitecture. In particular, the main extension dir ections ofat least some zones are not parallel to one another . Theleast some zones for the microtrap architecture par ticularlyenclose an angle to one another,wherein the angle isexemplarily larger than 0° and / or smaller than 180° , inparticularapproximately90°.Exemplarily, each ion trap can comprise a loading z one and aprocessing zone. For example, each ion trap can fur thercomprise at least one of a storage zone, a qubit de tectionzone and a temporary storage zone. Each of the zone s can bepart of a respective one of the modules or sub-modu les.For example, the compiler determines which zones ar ecomprised by the ion trap. Exemplarily, the compile rdetermines a connection of the zones and / or an orie ntation ofthe zones.Thisis,forexample,thatthe compiler determineswhat zones are present and / or used in the respectiv earchitecture and how the zones are connected and / or orientedto one another. P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -7 -According to at least one embodiment of the method, a bus ofions is determined by the compiler dependent on the processinformation and the determined atleasttwo zones. Inparticular, the bus of ions is further determined d ependenton the connection of the determined at least two zo nes. Thebus of ions is in particular characteristic for tra nsmittingtrapped ionsbetween the zonesofthe ion trap.Exemplarily, the quantum gate comprised in the proc essinformation is to be performed in at least one of t hedetermined zones. The compiler is configured to det erminetrapped ions, in particular at least one group of t rappedions,particularlycomprising atleasttwo trapped ions,or atleasttwo single trapped ions,which have to be moved tothe at least one of the determined zones in order t o performthe quantum gate.The busofionsisin particular characteristicforthe determined trapped ionsand the pathinformation thereof. The path information is in par ticularcharacteristic for at least one transmission path f or thedetermined trapped ions.According to at least one embodiment of the method,operational instructions are determined by the comp ilerdependent on the process information and the bus of ions,wherein the operational instructions are configured to beprovided to the ion trap forcontrolling the ions. The method described herein above is,exemplarily, performedin the order indicated. The method described herein above is,exemplarily,a computerimplemented method. P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -8 -An idea of the method described herein is, inter al ia, thatthe compiler is configured to translate from the pr ocessinformation, e.g. the source code, to native quantu m gatesprovided to the ion trap in a particularly efficien t manner.It is advantageously determined if either single tr apped ionsare moved within the determined zones or multiple i ons,particularly by merging or not multiple trapped ion s togethercreating quantum registers or not – which is repres ented bythe determined bus of ions. Flexibility is advantag eouslyincreased with the determination of such a bus of i ons.Advantageously,the compilerdeterminesthe busof trappedions for placing the trapped ions in the correct po sitionsinside the ion trap chip, e.g. within the correct z ones, tominimize or maximize operations that benefit the qu antumcomputation. Groups of trapped ions or single trapp ed ionsthus advantageously find an optimal transmission pa th to moveto respective zones based on the process informatio n providedbythe user.According to at least one embodiment of the method, thearchitecture of the ion trap is determined dependen t on acoupling information ofthe ions.Exemplarily,the coupling information ofthe trapped ionsisprovided to the compiler.For example, the coupling information is representa tive ifthe trapped ions are trapped by the ion trap of the firsttype or the ion trap of the second type. The coupli nginformation is in particular characteristic for a C oulombinteraction between neighboring ions.According to at least one embodiment of the method, hardwareinformation is provided that is characteristic of p ossiblequantum gates to be used in the determined architec ture with P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -9 -the determined zones. For example, the hardware inf ormationis provided to the compiler. In particular, by prov iding thehardware information, the compiler has knowledge of whichquantum gates can be realised in connection with th e ion trapwith the determined architecture.Exemplarily, the hardware information is provided b y arespective hardware provider, e.g. an original equi pmentmanufacturer, of the respective ion trap. This is t o say thatthe respective hardware provider provides the respe ctivehardware information for at least some of the possi ble iontraps.According to at least one embodiment of the method, theprocess information is adapted to the hardware info rmation bya circuit optimization process. For example, the pr ocessinformation comprises the quantum gate, particularl y providedbythe user,which isnotspecificto anyion traparchitecture. Exemplarily, the hardware information comprisespossible quantum gates, particularly provided by th e hardwareprovider, which are usable specifically by the resp ective iontrap with the respective architecture.The quantum gate of the process information is adva ntageouslyadapted to one or more of the possible quantum gate s by thecircuit optimization process, resulting in an adapt ed quantumgate comprised in the adapted processinformation.According to at least one embodiment of the method, trappedions to be moved are determined dependent on a posi tion ofthe trapped ions and dependent on the adapted proce ssinformation. Exemplarily, the trapped ions to be mo ved forrealizing the quantum computation according to the process P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -10 -information are determined by using an adaptive fee dbackloop. The determined trapped ions to be moved exemp larilycomprise at least one of single trapped ions have t o move,groups of trapped ions have to move, merging of tra pped ions,creating quantum registersoftrapped ions.According to at least one embodiment of the method, costinformation of moving the ions to be moved is deter mined, andan optimization of the cost information is performe d fordetermining an optimized path information for the i ons to bemoved. In particular, the cost information is chara cteristicfor a cost function which is minimized for the opti mization.Advantageously, the optimized path information is d eterminedbyminimizing the costfunction.According to at least one embodiment of the method, the busof ions is determined dependent on the optimized pa thinformation. This is that the bus of ions is partic ularlycharacteristicforthe determined trapped ionsand the path information.According to at least one embodiment of the method, theoptimization is performed by using random paths and / orsimulated paths. In particular, the optimization is performedbyusing a stochasticscheme.According to at least one embodiment of the method, thecircuit optimization process is performed dependent ondifferent trade-offs that can be constrained by a g ate time,a fidelity of 1 qubit gates and 2 qubit gates, a nu mber ofoperations for split and merge at least one ion reg ister, anumber of shuttling operation and in particular a t ime spenton the shuttling operation, and / or a trade-off of a uxiliary P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -11 - qubits.Exemplarily,the 1 qubitgatesand 2 qubit gates,andin particular the auxiliary qubits, are characteris tic forthe adapted quantum gates. Exemplarily, the auxilia ry qubitsare each characteristic for a carrier, e.g., a mess engerqubit.Exemplarily, at least one of a time of execution, a number ofshots, trapped ions availability, trapped ions posi tions,quantum gate execution, beneficiary quantum gates r egardingfidelity,mostused quantum gatesto implementfor the processinformation,are considered in the circuit optimization process.According to at least one embodiment of the method, the iontrap is a processing unit of the quantum computer s ystem.Furthermore, a system for controlling ions of an io n trap forperforming a quantum computation isdescribed.The system is configured to perform the method described herein. Therefore,all features and embodiments disclosed in connectio n with themethod are also disclosed in connection with the sy stem andvice versa.According to at least one embodiment, the system co mprises acomputing device with a compiler.According to at least one embodiment, the system co mprises anion trap.In addition a computer program is specified compris inginstructions which, when the computer program is ex ecuted bya computer, cause the computer program to execute t he methoddescribed herein. P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -12 -Further, a computer readable storage medium is spec ified onwhich the computer program described herein is stor ed.In the following, the method and the system are exp lained inmore detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and theassociated Figures.Figure 1 showsa flowchartofthe method according to an exemplaryembodiment. Figures2,3 and 4 each show an ion trap.Figure 5 shows a system according to an exemplary e mbodiment.Elements that are identical, similar or have the sa me effectare given the same reference signsin the figures. TheFigures and the proportions of the elements shown i n thefigures are not to be regarded as true to scale. Ra ther,individual elements may be shown exaggeratedly larg e forbetter representability and / or for better comprehen sibility.Method stage S1 according to the exemplary embodime nt ofFigure 1 comprisesproviding processinformation characteristicforthe quantum computation isto a compiler.The process information particularly includes at le ast aquantum gate based on which an ion trap 2 is operat ed forperforming the quantum computation.In method stage S2, the compiler determines an arch itectureof the ion trap 2. In particular, in this method st age, thetype of the ion trap 2 is determined, e.g. if the i on trap 2isofa firsttype characteristicfora microtrap P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -13 - architecture ora second type characteristicfora macrotrap architecture.Subsequently, after determining the architecture of the iontrap 2,in method stage S3 the compilerdetermines atleasttwo zones of the ion trap 2 being different from on e anotherdependent on the architecture. In particular, a loa ding zone,a processing zone, a storage zone, a qubit detectio n zoneand / ora temporarystorage zone are determined and particularlyidentified.In method stage S4, hardware information is provide d to thecompiler, wherein the hardware information is chara cteristicfor possible quantum gates to be used in the determ inedarchitecture with the determined zones. This is tha t thehardware information is characteristic of which qua ntumgates,i.e.possible quantum gates,the ion trap 2 with thedetermined architecture can execute with the determ ined, i.e.available,zones. Further,the processinformation isadapted to the hardwareinformation by a circuit optimization process. This is thatthe quantum gates of the process information, which aregeneral quantum gates which are not specific to any ion trap2 architecture,which are adapted via the circuit optimization processto the possible quantum gates ofthehardware information of the ion trap 2, which are n ativequantum gateswhich are specificto the ion trap 2 architecture.In method stage S5 trapped ions to be moved are det ermined bythe compiler dependent on a position of the trapped ions anddependent on the adapted process information. For e xample, it P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -14 - isdetermined where the trapped ionsare currently positionedand where they have to be moved for executing the a daptedquantum gates of the adapted process information. I nparticular, the trapped ions to be moved for realiz ing thequantum computation according to the adapted proces sinformation are determined by using an adaptive fee dbackloop.In method stage S6 the cost information of moving t he ions tobe moved isdetermined,and an optimization ofthe cost information isperformed fordetermining optimized path information forthe ionsto be moved.In method stage S7 a bus of ions is determined depe ndent onthe optimized path information. This is that the op timizedpath information isin particulardependenton the process information and the determined zones.In method stage S8, for example, an optimal compila tion forthe process information, particularly the adapted p rocessinformation,isdetermined and / orperformed bythe compiler.In method stage S9, the compiler determines operati onalinstructions dependent on the process information a nd the busof ions, wherein the operational instructions are c onfiguredto be provided to the ion trap 2 for controlling th e ions –and in particular performing the quantum computatio n.Exemplarily, the operational instructions are furth erdependenton the optimalcompilation.The ion trap 2 according to Figures 2, 3 and 4 comp rises fourzones Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4. The first zone Z1 hosts fo ur trappedions and the second zone Z2 hosts four trapped ions . P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -15 -Exemplarily, the first zone Z1 is characteristic fo r astorage zone,the second zone Z2 ischaracteristic foraprocessing zone, the third zone Z3 is characteristi c for atemporary storage, and the fourth zone Z4 is charac teristicfora qubitdetection zone. The busofionsdetermined in the method according to Figure1 exemplarily, and inter alia, comprises a single i on to bemoved to the processing zone forforming a quantum register7which is used for performing the quantum computatio n. Inparticular, in Figure 2, the loading zone is loaded with ionsand a further ion is located at the processing zone . InFigure 3, an ion of the loading zone is moved to th eprocessing zone to be ready for any quantum circuitoperations, particularly using the moved ion and th e ion inthe loading zone being exemplarymerged.The system 1 according to Figure 5 is a quantum com putersystem comprising an ion trap 2 as a processing uni t of thequantum computer system located within a chamber 3. The iontrap 2 is connected to external components of the q uantumcomputer system through the chamber 3 by a pluralit y ofconnections 4. For example, the connections 4 conne ct the iontrap 2 with electronic devices 5 and a classical co mputer 6.The electronic devices 5 comprise, exemplarily, a l aser, awavemeter, an acousto-optic modulator, an electro-o pticmodulator, a detector, a signal generator, an ampli fier, apower supply, a piezo controller, a motor, analog t o digitalconverters, signal generators such as radio frequen cygenerators, microwave signal generators, low-freque ncy signalgenerators and / or direct current signal generators. Theelectronic devices 5 can be also partially arranged within P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -16 -the chamber 3. The chamber 3 can be an ultra-high v acuumchamber, an extreme-high vacuum chamber and / or a cr yostat.The classical computer 6 is configured, for example , toreceive inputdata,e.g.the processinformation. Exemplarily,the compilerispartofthe classical computer 6.Exemplarily, the ion trap 2 is provided with a magn etarrangement which is configured to establish a magn eticgradientto the trapped ionsofthe ion trap 2.The invention is not limited to the exemplary embod iments bytheir description. Rather, the invention encompasse s any newfeature as well as any combination of features, whi ch inparticularincludesanycombination offeaturesin the claims,even ifthisfeature orcombination itself isnotexplicitly indicated in the claims or exemplary emb odiments.

[0002] P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -17 - Reference signs 1 system 2 ion trap 3 chamber 4 connections 5 electronicdevices 6 classicalcomputer 7 register Z1..Z4 zones S1…S9 method stages

Claims

P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -18 - Claims1. Method for controlling ions of an ion trap (2) f orperforming a quantum computation,comprising: -providing,to a compiler,processinformation characteristicforthe quantum computation, -determining,bythe compiler,an architecture of the ion trap (2), -determining,bythe compiler,atleasttwo zones ofthe iontrap (2) being different from one another dependent on thearchitecture,- determining, by the compiler, a bus of ions depen dent onthe process information and the determined at least twozones,- determining, by the compiler, operational instruc tionsdependent on the process information and the bus of ionsconfigured to be provided to the ion trap (2) for c ontrollingthe ions. 2.Method according to claim 1,wherein- the architecture of the ion trap (2) is determine ddependenton a coupling information ofthe ions.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherei n hardwareinformation is provided characteristic for possible quantumgates to be used in the determined architecture wit h thedetermined zones.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the processinformation isadapted to the hardware information bya circuitoptimization process.P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -19 -5. Method according to claim 4, wherein trapped ion s to bemoved are determined dependent on a position of the trappedions and dependent on the adapted process informati on.6.Method according claim 5,wherein- a cost information of moving the ions to be moved isdetermined,and- an optimization of the cost information is perfor med fordetermining an optimized path information for the i ons to bemoved. 7.Method according to claim 6,wherein- the bus of ions is determined dependent on the op timizedpath information.

8. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherei n theoptimization is performed by using random paths and / orsimulated paths.

9. Method according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherei n thecircuit optimization process is performed dependent ondifferent trade-offs that can be constrained by a g ate time,a fidelity of 1 qubit gates and 2 qubit gates, a nu mber ofoperations for split and merge at least one ion reg ister, anumber of shuttling operation and in particular a t ime spenton the shuttling operation, and / or a trade-off of a uxiliaryqubits.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, where in- the ion trap (2) is a processing unit of the quan tumcomputersystem.P2024,0042 WO N / IDF-QSW-62 April10,2025 -20 -11. System (1), wherein the system (1) is configure d toperform the method according to one of the precedin g claims.12.System (1)according to claim 11,comprising -a computing device with a compiler,and -an ion trap (2).

13. Computer program comprising instructions which, when thecomputerprogram isexecuted bya computerdevice, cause thecomputer program to execute the method according to one ofthe claims1 to 10.

14. Computer-readable storage medium on which the c omputerprogram according to claim 13 isstored.

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