Workshops

Virtual IEEE Quantum Week Workshops provide forums for small-group discussions on topics in quantum research, practice, education, and applications. Workshops provide opportunities for researchers, practitioners, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, developers, students, educators, programmers, and newcomers to exchange and discuss scientific and engineering ideas at an early stage before they have matured to warrant a conference or journal publication. In this manner, an IEEE Quantum Week workshop serves as an incubator for a scientific community to form a research roadmap or share a research agenda. Workshops are the key to sustaining, growing and evolving IEEE Quantum Week in the future.

QCE20 Format and Schedule

QCE20 will be held in a digital-only or virtual-only format during the week of Oct 12-16, 2020. QCE20 was originally scheduled to be held in Broomfield, Colorado which is in the Mountain Time Zone (MDT) or UTC-6. The QCE20 daily program will be broadcast from 8:30 to 19:45 Mountain Time. Recorded sessions will be available for registered QCE20 attendees a few hours after the live sessions until November 30, 2020. Every day of this week, QCE20 hosts 9-10 parallel tracks of quantum computing and engineering programming including Workshops, Tutorials, Technical Paper Tracks intermixed with Keynotes, Panels, Exhibits, Posters, Birds of a Feather, and Networking sessions featuring a total of over 270 hours of programming.

Workshops — Final Digital Presentation Guidelines

Please visit the Advance Conference Program for the time and date of the QCE20 Workshops. Final Digital Recording and Uploading Guidelines have now been posted. As a Workshop Presenter, please visit this Workshop Presentation Guideline page regularly for updates on how to prepare your QCE20 Workshop presentation for the week of Oct 12-16, 2020.

Workshops Inquiries

For any inquiries or questions about Workshops, please contact Workshops Co-Chair Travis Humble.

Workshops Program

Each workshop is 4.5 hours long and scheduled as three 1.5-hour time slots: 10:45-12:15, 13:00-14:30, and 15:15-16:45 MDT or UTC-6.

Workshop on Software for Quantum Applications, Algorithms, and Workflows

Travis L. Scholten, IBM Quantum (Lead)
Donny Greenberg, Facebook AI

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of software stacks for programming quantum computers. Each stack has its own conceptual model for what an algorithms or applications layer looks like. From “applications as APIs” to “algorithms as graphs”, which abstractions are most useful remains unclear. Furthermore, different ideas exist for how “quantum computing as a service” should be offered to a user, and how to manage the workflows users generate. From a user perspective, a given stack may have capabilities they are not aware of (especially as most stacks evolve very rapidly), or they may have used the stack in ways unexpected to developers. Having access to subject matter experts on quantum applications and how to program those applications in different stacks is useful for those users. What’s more, interaction between users, subject matter experts, and developers help catalyze further developments and innovations, making the stack more useful. In this workshop, we will bring together software developers of several prominent applications stacks, users of them, and applications domain experts to discuss recent advances in software for quantum applications and workflows, and to provide a forum for feedback from users to software architects.

Invited speakers: Josh Izaac (Xanadu), Nick Rubin (Google Quantum AI), Valentin Senicourt (1QBit), Shuxiang Cao (Rahko), Julien Gacon (IBM), Maria Schuld (Xanadu), Jhonathan Romero, (Zapata), Christa Zoufal, (IBM), Guillaume Verdon (Alphabet X), Jakob Kottman (University of Toronto), Ryan LaRose, (Unitary Fund & MSU), Yudong Cao, (Zapata), Fabio Sanches, (QCWare), César A. Rodríguez Rosario, (Strangeworks), Nathan Shammah,(Unitary Fund), William Zeng, (Unitary Fund & Goldman Sachs)

Keywords: Quantum application, software stack, prominent applications stacks, algorithms, workflows, software architects, abstractions, applications as APIs, algorithms as graphs, interactions among users, subject matter experts and developers

Streams: QAPP, QSW, QBUSI, QALGO

Target Audience: We expect the typical audience member to have a background in computer science, and/or be a coder or software developer. Audience members do not need to be intimately familiar with different application stacks, though some knowledge about at least one will facilitate questions during the panels. We wish to have broad participation from the developer community, including PhD students, postdocs, and those working in industry. The workshop would also be useful for application researchers who are using software.

Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Semiconductor-Inspired Engineering for Quantum Computing

Fahd A. Mohiyaddin, imec, Leuven, Belgium, EU
Iuliana P. Radu, imec, Leuven, Belgium, EU

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Recent prototypes of small-scale quantum computers on different platforms, along with novel applications, have attracted considerable interest from academia, government and industry. Scaling up existing prototypes to larger-scale quantum computers will entail significant breakthroughs in materials, process integration and control electronics, along with guided-device design. The semiconductor industry will play a pivotal role in the development of quantum computers, as leading qubit implementations are built on semiconductor substrates, allowing for large-scale qubit-integration, in addition to the development of high-performance control electronics. This workshop brings together scientists and engineers with various backgrounds aiming to consolidate the requirements for building semiconductor-based quantum computing systems by the industry. We invite scientists with expertise spanning quantum computation, device integration, cryogenic engineering and modeling, to deliver presentations and participate in discussions that aligns with our proposed topic. We anticipate that the workshop will aid to identify a working group targeted at utilizing the technological advances developed in the semiconductor industry for building quantum computers. With our partners spanning several sectors in the industry, we are confident that the inputs from this workshop will further help in the establishment of an industry roadmap for semiconductor-based quantum computation in the long-term.

Invited speakers: Jason Petta (Princeton University), John Morton (University College London), Fabio Sebastiano (Delft University of Technology), Kohei Itoh (Keio Unversity), Ravi Pillarisetty (Intel), David Reilly (University of Sydney)

Keywords: Semiconductor & superconducting qubits, materials, process integration, qubit characterization, device design & modeling, qubit control electronics, quantum architecture design

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW, QHAM, QHYB

Target Audience: The topics covered during the workshop will ensure that the audience will have expertise from broad backgrounds spanning the aspects briefed in Section II. We anticipate significant interest, as the workshop is focused at the crossroads of academic and industrial research. With a substantial presence from industrial QC researchers at the IEEE Quantum Week conference, we expect many scientists from the industry to attend the workshop. Academic researchers interested in collaborating with the industry may also form a large fraction of the workshop attendees. Finally, we expect that the workshop will provide graduate students and early career researchers significant insight about potential research avenues and opportunities for industrial collaboration.

Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Applied Quantum Artificial Intelligence

Prasanna Date, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Kathleen Hamilton, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) encompasses several tasks like visual perception, speech recognition, natural language understanding and decision making, and has been a fundamental research thrust in computer science over the past century. In the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era of quantum computing, there has been a proliferation of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms that have been applied to AI and related tasks. The goal of this workshop is to advance the state of quantum artificial intelligence by highlighting recent research on the utilization of near-term quantum processors as well as hybrid quantum-classical approaches in many different real-world AI applications. In doing so, we hope to promote exchange of QAI research ideas, build a collaborative platform for quantum artificial intelligence (QAI) research, forge a community of QAI researchers and outline a long-term research roadmap for QAI.

Invited speakers: Alejandro Perdomo-Ortiz (Zapata Computing), Nathan Killoran (Xanadu Quantum Computing), Davide Venturelli (NASA), Patrick Coles (LANL)

Keywords: Quantum computing, quantum artificial intelligence, quantum machine learning, quantum engineering

Streams: QAPP, QALGO, QML, QENG, NISQ

Target Audience: The primary goal of this workshop is to foster discussions between domain scientists with large-scale applications and researchers that specialize in quantum computing. Through the proposed workshop, we wish to reach out to professionals in the following fields: quantum computing, quantum information, quantum engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. We expect our attendees to have an education background in computer science, physics, mathematics, electrical engineering or a related field. We believe that the audience of the proposed workshop will have a diverse set of backgrounds, and welcome all QAI researchers, practitioners and enthusiasts: including but not limited to scientists, professors, educators, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, graduate students, undergraduate students, engineers, developers, entrepreneurs, newcomers etc. We hope to garner equal participation from academia, industry and government research organizations in highlighting recent research in the fields of quantum artificial intelligence, quantum machine learning and quantum algorithm design.

Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6
Location: Elk3
Session Chair: QCE20 Workshops Co-Chair Travis Humble, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Workshop on From Qubits to Quantum Teleportation: A Hands-On Experience for High Schoolers

Prashanti Priya Angara, University of Victoria, Canada
Ulrike Stege, University of Victoria, Canada
Andrew MacLean, University of Victoria, Canada
Thomas Markham, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado
Jim Knodel, Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Honeywell International Inc, Broomfield, Colorado
Location: Elk4
Session Chair: QCE20 Posters Co-Chair Ulrike Stege, University of Victoria

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum Computing is an emerging technology that is not just expected to overcome some of the limitations of classical computing but also to revolutionize computing by enabling breakthroughs in chemistry, drug design, optimization, and machine learning, to name a few. Increasingly, quantum computers are accessible to everyone and programmable by everyone, over the internet. With improvements in the accuracy and power of quantum computers, the demand for a skilled workforce in Quantum Computing increases significantly. This workshop is intended for high-school-aged youth and introduces some basic principles of Quantum Computing. Participants will be introduced to both the universal model of quantum computing as well as quantum annealing. Concepts encountered during this workshop include qubit systems, quantum gates, measurement, superposition, entanglement, and quantum teleportation. Participants will explore some of the available programming environments for quantum computing and have an opportunity to get hands-on experience on some of the quantum computers/simulators that are publicly available such as those from IBM, D-Wave, and, Honeywell. Participants are encouraged to bring their own devices to the workshop.

Keywords: Quantum education, quantum computing for high schoolers and their teachers, qubit systems, quantum gates, measurement, superposition, entanglement, and quantum teleportation demonstrated using Honeywell, IBM, and D-Wave platforms, CS-unplugged

Streams: QEDU, QIS, QPROG, QALGO, QHW, QSW

Target Audience: High school-aged students who are interested in this exciting field of quantum computing. Teachers, counselors, parents, researchers who are interested in motivating high-school students to explore the realm of quantum computing.

Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Engineering Trapped Ion Quantum Computers

Patty Lee, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado (Lead)
Thomas Markham, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado
Michael Belt, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado
Sheryl Genco, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Boulder, Colorado
Christian Lytle, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado
Brian Mathewson, Honeywell Quantum Solutions Honeywell International Inc Broomfield, Colorado

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Trapped ion quantum computers have transitioned from research laboratories to commercial settings over the past few years. Such systems provide long coherence times and the potential for deeper circuits relative to competing technologies. Progress within this sphere required a multidisciplinary effort across many technological fields, leading to major engineering innovations and scientific discoveries. The goal of this workshop is to provide a forum for trapped ion quantum computing researchers and engineers from academia, government, and industry to discuss recent technological developments, current engineering challenges, and potential pathways for advancement and scaling. We invite experts and practitioners to present different visions and approaches. Technology providers are invited to address how they can support the trapped ion quantum computing community and unveil plans to aid future developments. All participants are encouraged to propose collaborative efforts to advance the field. Topics may include system architecture, implementation methods, trap fabrication, control electronics, lasers and optical systems, integrated photonics, and cryogenic and ultra-high vacuum systems. The workshop will include a poster session in the evening to accommodate the abundance of interest from the trapped ion community and relevant industry groups. This poster session will provide opportunities for dialogue between different groups and foster collaboration.

Invited Speakers: Chris Monroe (IonQ and University of Maryland), Crystal Senko (University of Waterloo), Conrad Roman (UCLA), Brian Mathewson, Tony Ransford (Honeywell), Clayton Crocker (Keysight), Chetan Khona (Xilinx), Miguel Usach (Analog Devices), David Hayes (Honeywell), Jeremy Sage (MIT – Lincoln Laboratory), Dietrich Leibfried (Ion Storage Group NIST), Dave Hucul (US Air Force Research Lab)

Keywords: Quantum Computer, Ion Trap, control system, FPGA, ADC, DAC, RF, photonics, integrated circuits, measurement

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW, QSW, QHYB

Target Audience: The discussions regarding collaborative efforts should be of interest to university and government researchers conducting studies on trapped ions and/or quantum information science. The discussions regarding scaling include speakers from government labs, academia, and industry. This should be particularly interesting for Government funding and policy decision influencers. The session addressing control systems requirements and challenges will benefit analog, digital, and laser electro-optical engineers interested in developing components and subsystems that can provide high fidelity qubit control. These sessions are also expected to attract electronic and laser electro-optical vendors seeking to understand the needs of the trapped ion community.

Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Architectural Guidelines and Best Practices for Scalable Circuit QED Quantum Computing

Tobias Thiele, Zurich Instruments AG, Zurich (Lead)
Moritz Kirste, Zurich Instruments AG, Zurich
Vikrant Mahajan, Zurich Instruments Inc., Boston
Frank Wilhelm-Mauch, OpenSuperQ Project & Saarland University, Saarbrucken

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: What does it take to build a scalable quantum computer? Superconducting circuits were identified as a promising platform to build a quantum computer a while ago, but for scientists and engineers from academia and industry the goal of a scalable system based on this platform is still far-fetched. While some common strategies have been developed, identifying a broader set of globally accepted guidelines with the long-term goal of forming industry standards is increasingly important. This workshop provides a platform for speakers and audience from academia, industry, and test & measurement instrument manufacturers to look into what activities have already been undertaken, how common mistakes can be avoided and what actions are still needed within the circuit QED (quantum electrodynamics) community to agree on a general set of guidelines that will simplify and support the development of quantum computers.

Invited Speakers: Frank Wilhelm-Mauch (FZJ), Jerry Chow (IBM), Travis Humble (ORNL), Irfan Siddiqi (LBL), John Martinis (UCSB), Florent Lecocq (NIST Boulder), Michael Biercuk (Q-CTRL), Olli Ahonen (IQM), Jens Nielsen (Microsoft)

Keywords: Scalable quantum computers, industry standards, quantum electrodynamics (QED) community

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QHW, QSA

Target Audience: The workshop targets a broad and interdisciplinary audience coming from academia, industry and governmental institutions. Participants of the workshop will benefit from some background knowledge of circuit QED, quantum computation and/or of the higher levels of the quantum stack. However, we expect the workshop to be equally interesting for people from quantum computing communities other than circuit QED, and also for less experienced members of the IEEE quantum week audience, as the discussion points will not require in-depth technical know-how.

Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Solution Architecture for Quantum Hardware & Software Development

Faisal Shah Khan, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi
Steven Bleiler, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Steven Reinhardt, Quantum Computing Inc., Leesburg, VA
Yaakov Weinstein, The MITRE Corporation, Princeton, NJ
Raouf Dridi, Quantum Computing Inc., Leesburg, VA

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: In the broadest sense, the solution architecture (shared mathematical concept) for the classical computational paradigm of the 20th century has been the algebra of Euclidean spaces and their variations such as finite fields, rings, groups, and graphs. With the aid of this solution architecture, ideas of universal circuits, hardware design, error-detection and – correction codes, firmware, compilers, software design, and tools and applications have been developed and optimized to enable the current cyber-based economy, even though much of this solution architecture arose after the availability of classical computers on which it was implemented. For the larger quantum computational paradigm, the solution architecture is the algebra of projective complex Hilbert spaces. And while the dawn of the 21st century is seeing the proof-of-principle, first generation of quantum computational technologies becoming real, a deeper study of the solution architecture for these technologies is essential to see their optimized and practically useful next generations. Based on the historical precedent of solution architecture for classical computing, we believe that the best quantum computers will emerge if their developers and early-users talk directly to establish common solution architecture while both systems and applications are still embryonic, and that is the purpose of this workshop.

Invited Speakers: Stuart Hadfield (NASA), Samah Saeed (City College of New York), Marek Perkowski (Portland State University), Constantin Gonciulea (JPMorgan Chase)

Keywords: Algebraic solution architecture including finite fields, rings, groups, and graphs, algebra of projective complex Hilbert spaces

Streams: QIS, QHQ, QHAM, QSW, QDK

Target Audience: As Gauss famously put it, mathematics is the queen of science. An interdisciplinary audience with an appreciation for Gauss’ sentiment and the power of formal mathematical reasoning, its rigorous approach to problem solving, the entailing deeper insights and the solutions that follow, will find this workshop both informative and useful.

Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Quantum Software Engineering and Technology

Ricardo Pérez-Castillo, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, EU
Guido Peterssen, aQuantum by Alhambra, Spain, EU
Mario Piattini, University of Castilla-La Mancha & aQuantum, Spain, EU
Jose Luis Hevia, aQuantum by Alhambra, Spain, EU

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: It is recognized that there is a rapidly-increasing awareness of the need for quantum computing applications, and there is a great desire to produce quality quantum software in a controlled manner. However, this is ineffective unless research and practitioners come to understand how software engineering can help. The Talavera Manifesto for Quantum Software Engineering and Programming pointed out that Quantum Software Engineering (QSE) is critical to the success of quantum computing. IEEE defines Software Engineering as the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, as well as to the study of these approaches. This means, the application of engineering to software. It is time to take care of producing quantum software by applying knowledge and lessons learned from the software engineering field. This implies to apply or adapt the existing software engineering processes, methods, techniques, practices and principles for the development of quantum software, or even to create new methods and techniques.

Invited Speakers: Eleanor G. Rieffel (NASA Ames), João Paulo Fernandes (University of Coimbra), Rui Abreu (Delft University of Technology), Aurelio Martínez Corchano (Alhambra IT), Luis Jiménez-Navajas (University of Castilla-La Mancha), Francesco Piro (Politecnico di Milano), Juan Manuel Murillo (University of Extremadura)

Keywords: Manifesto for quantum software engineering and programming, quantum software engineering, quantum programming methods, quantum algorithms, quantum programming languages, quantum software evolution, quantum metrics

Streams: QSE, QEDU, QDK, QPROG

Target Audience: The target audience are both, researchers and practitioners coming from the industry, that came up with innovative and significant advances or experiences in the field of Quantum Software Engineering and Technology; or those people that are interested on learning about this field. First, this workshop might attract attendees coming from the quantum computing & engineering fields who wants to learn about how to develop quantum software. Second, this workshop will attract attendees coming from the traditional software engineering field who wants to learn about quantum computing technology and programming.

Date: Tue, Oct 13, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Quantum Curriculum Development with Microsoft Quantum Development Kit

Mark Tsang, Academic and Scientific Partnerships for the Quantum Group, Microsoft Corporation
Mariia Mykhailova, Quantum Systems Team, Microsoft Corporation

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum computing has massive implications for workforce development. In addition to working on developing a scalable quantum system, Microsoft partners with universities to help them develop practical quantum curriculum to ensure that we have a trained workforce ready to staff the quantum ecosystems of tomorrow. This first part of this workshop overviews the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit (QDK) and Azure Quantum and a report on how QDK was used in an undergraduate course “Introduction to quantum computing and quantum programming in Q#” taught by Microsoft Quantum team at the University of Washington. The second part is a deep dive into the curriculum materials developed for the course, including Quantum Katas—tutorials and programming exercises on quantum computing and quantum programming, automatically graded programming assignments, a test harness for programming assignments and alternative types of assignments: debugging, resource estimation, and end-to-end applications developed as final projects. The third part will feature an open discussion where several professors who have used QDK in their courses (both using our curriculum materials and developing their own) discuss its effectiveness, and the attendees brainstorm on creating new practical assignments (new types of assignments and new topics that should be covered) and adopting them for other courses.

Keywords: Quantum curriculum development, Microsoft quantum development kit (QDK), programming exercises and assignments, automated grading, test harnesses, debugging resource estimation, projects, creating new practical assignments

Streams: QEDU, QDK, QSE

Target Audience: We expect the workshop attendees to be primarily university professors and graduate students. However, we think it might also attract industry and scientific institutions representatives interested in teaching quantum computing effectively.

Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Tuning Strategies for Quantum Annealing

Erica Grant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) & University of Tennessee
Catherine McGeoch, D-Wave Systems

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum annealing is a metaheuristic implemented in quantum hardware, which utilizes quantum properties like superposition to find the global minimum solution of problems that can be formulated as Hamiltonians. As the capabilities of quantum annealers improve, it is important to measure the performance of these devices and develop strategies to refine the quality of solutions so that we can inform hardware and algorithm development, better understand how these parameters influence device physics, and discover which applications may demonstrate quantum advantage over classical heuristics. There are three categories of tuning strategies: (1) Pre-processing involves the preparation of the problem to be solved, including the formulation of the Hamiltonian, weights applied to the Hamiltonian (e.g., Lagrange multipliers), and the embedding of the problem onto the hardware; (2) Modifying annealing parameters involves strategies for optimizing and tuning control options such as qubit initialization, reverse anneal, pause times, and anneal offsets; and (3) Post-processing considers manipulation of the solutions returned by the quantum annealer. Hybrid quantum-classical solution approaches may combine tuning strategies. For example, one may implement a preprocessing method to find a best-guess initial state before annealing, combined with a post-processing method using local search to improve solutions. Hybrid approaches can also be applied to solve larger-than-chip inputs.

Invited Speakers: Daniel Lidar (University of Southern California), Andrew King (D-Wave Systems), Jack Raymond (D-Wave Systems), Hristo Djidjev (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Keywords: Quantum annealing, hybrid quantum-classical computing, tuning strategies, Hamiltonians, superposition, performance measures, solution quality, quantum advantage, embedding of problem onto hardware, tuning annealing parameters, pre- and post-processing methods

Streams: QTECH, QOPT, QHYB, QPERF, QHAM, QAPP

Target Audience: Researchers and D-Wave customers who are involved in applications work, and who want to get best performance out of the quantum annealing system. Researchers who are interested in developing guidelines for best-use practices or in building software tools to automate tuning. Researchers and developers who are interested in designing hybrid solvers that incorporate quantum annealing. D-Wave scientists who are working on building next generation systems.

Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Qubit Control Requirements for Practical Scalable Quantum Computation

David E. Root, Keysight Laboratories, Keysight Technologies, Inc., Santa Rosa, California (Lead)
Nizar Messaoudi, Quantum Engineering Solutions, Keysight Technologies, Waterloo, Ontario

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Controlling qubits is the heart of a quantum computer, indeed the very basis of all quantum engineering. Control is critical for qubit initialization, manipulation, readout and low-latency feedback for error correction. The engineering of such control systems is therefore among the most important and central requirement for quantum engineering of functional and useful quantum computers. Rapidly improving qubit systems in multiple and diverse technologies are enabling the potential and realization of NISQ systems with hundreds or more functional qubits. A key requirement for optimal qubit processor performance is the ability to control the qubits robustly, flexibly, and cost-effectively with classical control systems. Despite differences in the proposed qubit platforms, there is a common thread with respect to control requirements. Furthermore, there is no qubit technology platform capable of addressing all the different requirements to realizing quantum computing networks. This has led to extensive research into hybrid approaches, where different qubit technologies are integrated together to address the broader requirements beyond computation (e.g., quantum memory, communication). To address these evolving needs, qubit control systems should be agnostic to the quantum hardware platform as much as possible. This Workshop will explore requirements for general qubit control systems, and avenues for more tightly integrating control into future multi-technology platforms such as cryogenic electronics. We’ll examine the competing technical requirements of different qubit technologies while discussing the value of hardware agnostic approaches to leverage the underlying requirements.

Invited Speakers: William Oliver (MIT), Michel Pioro-Ladrière (University of Sherbrooke), David Compagna (Honeywell), Joe Bardin (Google AI Quantum & UMass Amherst), Simon Gustavsson (Labber Quantum) Joseph Emerson (University of Waterloo & Quantum Benchmark Inc.)

Keywords: Quantum control, quantum computing, quantum hybrid systems, HW agnostic qubit control, scalable control systems, real-time hardware

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW, QHYB

Target Audience: Practicing electrical engineers and microwave engineers seeking to learn enough about the intersection of quantum mechanics and engineering – quantum engineering – to fill the gap in the workforce. The expected background is basic microwave and electrical engineering at the bachelor’s level, with ideally at least an introductory quantum mechanics background or strong interest, and basic knowledge of linear algebra. Some knowledge of analogue and digital electronics, microwave hardware, and measurement science will be useful. Previous successful quantum engineering workshops at IEEE conferences have focused on distinct qubit technologies and their specific microwave engineering challenges. But none of these workshops have focused specifically on the classical control system requirements needed to effectively address the wide variety of scalable technologies with qubit numbers in the hundreds to thousands. This workshop will differentiate itself by covering the entire control system stack from high level SW down to RF waveforms and readout in real-time HW.

Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Photonics-based Quantum Computing and Simulation

Lukas Chrostowski, University of British Columbia
Colin McKinstrie, LGS Innovations
Kartik Srinivasan, NIST

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum computers based on photons as qubits may become the winning technology in the quantum computing race, and have received the largest VC investment to date (e.g., $250M, PsiQuantum). Specifically, integrated photonics technologies may be more scalable than superconducting or ion trap quantum computers. This workshop will cover both pure photonic qubit technologies (such as discrete and continuous-variable implementations of linear optics quantum computing) as well as architectures based on photonic qubits coupled to matter qubits. Both universal quantum computing and more specialized quantum simulators will be discussed.

Invited Speakers: Chao-Yang Lu (USTC), Raffaele Santagati (University of Bristol), Benjamin Brecht (University of Paderborn), Mercedes Gimeno-Segovia (Psi Quantum), Roberto Morandotti (INRS), Zachary Vernon (Xanadu)

Keywords: Quantum photonics, photonic qubits, matter qubits, simulators

Streams: QPHO, QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW

Target Audience: This workshop is intended to introduce various aspects of photonics-based quantum computing and simulation to both quantum photonics researchers and researchers from outside of this field. Some basic familiarity with concepts in quantum computing and photonics would be helpful.

Date: Wed, Oct 14, 2020
Time: 10:45-14:30 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Photonic Technologies for Quantum Information Science

Lukas Chrostowski, University of British Columbia
Colin McKinstrie, LGS Innovations
Kartik Srinivasan, NIST

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Integrated photonics will be a key technology for quantum computation and simulation, quantum communications, and quantum sensing. This workshop will present some of the hardware development associated with core quantum photonic technologies needed in these fields, including sources, detectors, transducers, entanglement generators, and memories.

Invited Speakers: Ian Walmsley (Imperial College London), Michael G. Raymer (University of Oregon), Cindy Regal (JILA), Stephanie Simmons (Simon Fraser University), Jeff Young (University of British Columbia), Stefan Preble (Rochester Institute of Technology), Alp Sipahigil (Caltech), Andrei Faraon (Caltech)

Keywords: Quantum information science, photonic technologies

Streams: QIS, QPHO, QENG, QTECH, QHW

Target Audience: This workshop is intended to introduce different types of integrated photonics hardware that is being developed for quantum applications to the non-specialist. Some basic familiarity with concepts in photonics and device physics would be helpful.

Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Cryogenic Electronics for Quantum Systems

Farah Fahim, Fermi Quantum Institute, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL
Edoardo Charbon, EPFL Neuchatel, Switzerland

Abstract: Qubits for quantum processors, mostly operate at few tens of mK. In order to operate millions of qubits required to solve useful problems effectively, one needs to construct a classical infrastructure to read, correct, and control them. A novel, scalable solution for this operation can be provided by integrated cryo-electronics operating at 20 mK, or, most likely, at higher temperatures, such as 3-4K. In particular, cryogenic CMOS (cryo-CMOS) circuits have been shown to operate at these temperatures and to be adequate in the task. As a consequence, intense research has been conducted on this topic in recent times, prompting the need for an international discussion on the topic.

Keywords: Deep cryogenic electronics, cryo-electronics, cryo-CMOS, readout and control circuits, qubits

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW

Target Audience: The workshop aims to engage both established experts and emerging young researchers in engineering and physics disciplines, so as to provide a comprehensive overview on some of the most significant recent research results and on current, cutting-edge research trends in cryo-electronics to enable scaling of quantum systems. We will bring together scientists and engineers from the industry, academia and national labs engaged in advancing quantum technologies.

Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Practical Quantum Sensing from a Photonic and Atomic Physics Perspective

Raphael Pooser, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum sensing has recently moved from the laboratory into a more applied and practical domain. In particular, sensors that minimize classical noise sources to the point where photonic statistics and back action dominate the measurement signal to noise are becoming more common. This workshop will outline the methods, techniques, and fundamental physics behind quantum sensing from a photonics and AMO (atomic, molecular, and optical) physics point of view, with special attention paid to the path to building quantum sensors that genuinely outperform classical devices from a signal to noise and resource cost point of view. The workshop will be broken into three sessions addressing key aspects of quantum sensing: (1) Building the best possible sensor, first; (2) Optimization of sensing modalities and data analysis; and (3) Harnessing quantum effects in quantum sensors. This workshop will bring together a diverse group of quantum sensing experimentalists who seek to bring quantum sensors into a quantum advantage regime. The workshop is highly relevant to the concept of quantum engineering, as the workshop will discuss how to bring quantum sensors to a level of true practicality.

Keywords: Quantum sensing, quantum sensing experimentalists, quantum engineering, photonics, AMO (atomic, molecular, and optical) physics, practical quantum sensors, quantum advantage, paths to building quantum sensors that genuinely outperform classical devices from a signal to noise and resource cost point of view

Streams: QCSC, QHW, QTECH

Target Audience: The workshop attendees are expected to be quantum simulator developers. The level of experience of simulators will range from novice to experienced developers.

Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6
Location: Elk3
Session Chair: QCE20 Workshops Co-Chair Travis Humble, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Workshop on IEEE P7130 Quantum Technology Nomenclature Working Group Meeting

William Hurley, IEEE P7130 WG Chair, Strangeworks (Lead)
Bo Ewald, IEEE P7130 WG Vice-chair, ColdQuanta
Robert S. Williamson III, Subgroup Co-chair, ColdQuanta
Christopher W. Bartlett, Subgroup Co-chair, The Ohio State University
Andrew Ochoa, Subgroup Co-chair, Strangeworks

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: The IEEE P7130 Working Group plans to hold its first face-to-face meeting during the IEEE Quantum Week. IEEE P7130 was approved by IEEE SA Standards Board in June 2019. The purpose of this project is to provide a general nomenclature for quantum technologies that may be used to standardize hardware and software terminology. The working draft glossary enumerating quantum technology-specific terminology and establishing concise definitions of those terms, with the intent of facilitating clarity and communication among both specialists and non-specialists. With the growth of the “second quantum revolution” in both research and commerce, it is important for the community to share a common understanding of the complex and sometimes even controversial terminologies associated with all facets of quantum technology. The IEEE 7130 Working Group hopes to expand and refine the glossary standard. We also expect the meeting to result in a more comprehensive, complete, and useful document to contribute to the IEEE standards development.

Keywords: Quantum standards, glossary, quantum technologies, quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum communications, quantum information science

Streams: QSA, QEDU, QBUSI

Target Audience: Members of IEEE P7310 Working Group and quantum technology experts interested in quantum nomenclature.

Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Technology Roadmapping for Quantum Computing

Scott Holmes, USA, IEEE IRDS (Lead)
Erik DeBenedictis, USA, IEEE IRDS

Abstract: Technology roadmapping helped the semiconductor community to successfully coordinate research and development efforts for over two decades. In 2018, Cryogenic Electronics and Quantum Information Processing (CEQIP) became an international focus team (IFT) within the International Roadmap for Devices and Systems (IRDS). The updated roadmapping process is driven both bottom-up by devices and top-down by systems application requirements. Models, metrics, and benchmarks predict device and system performance and guide technology roadmapping to meet application requirements. So far, the status of quantum computing has been monitored, but no technology roadmaps have been developed. The goal of the workshop is to identify specific technologies relevant to quantum computing that might be ready for roadmapping. An introduction to the roadmapping process will be followed by short presentations advocating roadmaps for particular technologies. The group will consider which are most ready or important to roadmap and break up into working groups. Brief summary reports will be given by each working group, followed by a discussion of the next steps.

Keywords: Technology roadmap, qubit control, cryogenic electronics, scalable quantum computation, quantum computers, hardware & NISQ; superconducting & trapped ion circuits, topological & silicon spin qubits, quantum dots, hybrid computing, adiabatic computing

Streams: QTECH, QENG, QBUSI, QHW, QSW

Target Audience: Quantum technology experts interested in technology roadmapping for quantum computing.

Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Control and Design of Superconducting Qubits

Nicholas T. Bronn, IBM Quantum (Lead)
Zlatko K. Minev, IBM Quantum
Travis L. Scholten, IBM Quantum

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Superconducting microwave qubits are a leading platform for quantum technologies. One reason is their fabrication leverages already-widespread semiconductor fabrication processes from the past several decades of traditional CMOS computing. Another reason is their design can be understood in terms of microwave circuits, with circuit element values determined from electromagnetic simulation of their distributed – and lumped – components. Once these elements are found, the Hamiltonian used to model the dynamics of the circuit can be derived using analytic or numeric techniques. This Hamiltonian describes how qubits interact with one other and with applied microwave pulses. Once these interactions are understood, single- and two-qubit gates—the fundamental operations of quantum computers—can be constructed by precise control of microwaves. To introduce these ideas to electrical engineers, and to enable collaborations between quantum hardware engineers and those building hardware and software for quantum control, this workshop will bring together academics and industry researchers in control, hardware design, and software to discuss the state-of-the-art in superconducting qubit design and control. They will also discuss how to engage the broader semiconductor fabrication community, and provide feedback to software engineers developing tools for qubit design and control. The industry has a growing need to address challenges in the areas of control, design, and circuit optimization; this workshop will be a forum for starting to do so.

Invited speakers: Andre Carvalho (Q-CTRL), William Oliver (MIT), Zach Schoenfeld (IBM), Helena Zhang (IBM), Sadik Hafizovic (Zurich Instruments), Anastasiia Butko (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Robert Jördens (QUARTIQ/M-Labs), Nissim Ofek, (Quantum Machines), Liz Ruetsch, (Keysight Technologies)

Keywords: Quantum technologies, superconducting qubits, microwave circuits, control, design, electromagnetic simulation, Hamiltonians of interacting qubits, circuit optimization, precise control of microwaves, engage broader semiconductor fabrication community, software tools for qubit design and control

Streams: QENG, QTECH, QCTRL, QHW, QHAM

Target Audience: The target audience is electrical engineers and those with classical control electronics, plus microwave engineers. We expect researchers from groups building superconducting qubits would join.

Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Quantum Computing Entrepreneurship

Andy Chen, IEEE Technology Engineering Management Society & REDDS Capital, Toronto, Canada (Lead)
Rafael Sotelo, Universidad de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
Thomas Monaco, IEEE Entrepreneurship, Piscataway, NJ, USA
Ken Stauffer, IEEE Entrepreneurship, Piscataway, NJ, USA
Randi Sumner, IEEE Entrepreneurship, Piscataway, NJ, USA

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum computing is experiencing an inflection point. Tremendous research energy and effort have been invested, especially along two dimensions. On the one hand, quantum information science, algorithms, and programming have achieved a certain maturity over the past 30 years. One the other hand, quantum physicists engineers, and materials experts have managed to realize quantum computers using several different technologies as postulated by Feynman. Now, there are a few quantum computers available online in clouds offered by different providers. The industry is optimistic about increasing the compute power at a sustained rate over the next decade. So, the promise of real software applications solving important problems is nearing fruition. That is why the field is now attractive for software companies and start-ups. There are plenty of public quantum computing activities—academic, commercial, and governmental—and the field is gaining significant momentum and investments around the world. The workshop will have three different sessions. Session I “Entrepreneurship in Quantum Computing from Academic perspective” will review experiences and best practices on how universities support their emerging QC entrepreneurs through startup accelerators, tackling topics as how Intellectual Property, seed funding and share is managed. Session II “Entrepreneurship in Quantum Computing” will discuss the factors that cause startups/products to fail in the quantum space with a specific focus on technical challenges, best practices and possibilities for improvement. We will hear case studies into the various phases of innovation and product development and learn about the circumstances that contribute to the high and lows of entrepreneurship in quantum computing. Session III “Technological tools supporting QC entrepreneurship” will introduce a set of technological tools that are available for QC entrepreneurs.

Keywords: Quantum computing, entrepreneurship intrapreneurship, venture capitals, technological investment

Streams: QBUSI, QAPP, QTECH

Target Audience: Scientists, engineers, researchers interested in learning on how to develop their own start-up. Entrepreneurs interested in networking and sharing experiences. Investors interested in finding opportunities in the field of quantum computing. Companies interested in broadening their fields of interest to quantum computing. Academics interested in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Start-up Accelerators.

Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Quantum Simulation

Yuri Alexeev, Argonne, National Laboratory (Lead)
Matthew Otten, Argonne National Laboratory
Salvatore Mandrà, NASA Ames

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: The goal of the Quantum Simulation Workshop is to cover all aspects of the development and use of quantum simulators using various approaches applicable to a wide range of quantum platforms, with the focus on current and upcoming technologies and state-of-the-art algorithmic developments, such as parallelization of simulators to run on HPC systems. Additionally, the workshop will cover a wide range of applications of quantum simulators, including demonstrations of quantum advantage, development of quantum algorithms, and the design of new quantum systems. The Quantum Simulations Workshop will provide participants with both knowledge of how to design and implement state-of-the-art simulators, as well as how to utilize those simulators to make important progress in quantum information science.

Invited Speakers: Kyungjoo Noh (AWS Center for Quantum Computing), Brendon Lovett (University of St, Andrews), Raphael Pooser (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Dmitry Liakh (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Johnnie Gray (California Institute of Technology), Cupjin Huang (Alibaba), Danylo Lykov (Argonne National Laboratory)

Keywords: Quantum simulation, quantum information science, hybrid quantum-classical computing, development and use of quantum simulators, wide range of quantum platforms, state-of-the-art algorithmic developments, such as parallelization of simulators to run on HPC systems, quantum advantage, design and implement quantum simulators

Streams: QIS, QSW, QHAM, QHYB, QALGO, QPERF

Target Audience: The workshop attendees are expected to be quantum simulator developers from the US and other countries. The level of experience of simulators will range from novice to experienced developers.

Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6

Workshop on Quantum Computing Opportunities in Renewable Energy

Zachary Eldredge, U.S. Department of Energy
Annarita Giani, GE Research

Please visit the workshop website for detailed information

Abstract: Quantum computing is poised to begin solving important, practical problems with real-world consequences. While the quantum sector prepares for this transition into applicability, a parallel transition is happening in the world of energy, where large-scale, fossil-fuel-driven generation is facing increased environmental scrutiny and competition from small-scale renewables with rapidly dropping prices. In this workshop, we will combine these two technological trends and provide a forum for discussion and interaction among academia, industry, and government actors with relevant interests. This workshop will include discussion of both quantum computing devices, ranging from annealers to NISQ devices to future digital quantum computers, as well as a description of some of the major computational challenges facing renewable energy today – simulation for chemistry and forecasting; the rise of distributed generation; and scheduling and dispatch of variable renewable resources. Our goal is to identify the most fruitful areas of collaboration and identify what types of research need to be done to advance the field of renewable energy and quantum computing. We welcome participants in quantum computing to learn about this exciting and vital area of potential application and participants in renewable energy to present computational challenges and learn about the opportunities quantum computers represent.

Keywords: Quantum computing application, renewable energy quantum computing opportunities, combining two technology trends: quantum computing & renewable energy, computational renewable challenges: simulation for renewable chemistry and forecasting

Streams: QAPP, QCHEM, QHAM, QBUSI

Target Audience: A mix of researchers and leaders in quantum computing and others in renewable energy. The goal is to start a dialogue between two emerging fields. In quantum computing, we hope to attract researchers who are experts in near-term applications such as optimization, adiabatic quantum computing, and NISQ devices. Renewable energy experts desired include those with focuses on grid planning, operations, simulations, and chemical engineering (for energy storage or PV). We expect that the workshop will be primarily attended by experts in quantum computing, so we will prioritize the recruitment of renewable energy experts to balance. Due to the focus on practical quantum computation, we anticipate that there will be many interested parties from quantum computing industry players. Developing a business case for quantum computing in the fast-growing renewable energy sector is likely to be very interesting to that audience. However, because there are many unanswered questions about the nature of quantum speed-ups for optimization or other near-term possibilities, we will also heavily value academic input and insight into the quantum computing state of the art.

Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Time: 10:45-16:45 Mountain Time (MDT) — UTC-6