Abstract

Over the last few years quantum computers have rose to prominence as a solution for increasing computing power and tackling problems intractable by classical computers. Classical computers have struggled to meet the ever-increasing demand for data processing and modeling. Thus, quantum computers would meet the demand for heavy computing tasks that classical computers could never achieve. Today there exist two promising quantum technologies that have the potential to prove quantum supremacy in the near future: super-conducting qubits and Continuous Variable (CV) model. Out of the two, superconducting qubits have been at the forefront of quantum computing research. NISQ (Noise intermediate-scale quantum) are the existing superconducting qubit computers, and are defined by having a small number of qubits with high inaccuracies due to quantum noise. The CV approach utilize photons in Gaussian states, qumodes, as the main processing unit. CV-based quantum computers present similar computation benefits to superconducting qubit devices. The ease of manufacturing and operation -- due to being able to operate at room temperature -- of CV-based quantum computers make it a likely candidate for wide adoption and accessibility compared to superconducting qubit systems. But because of the underlying differences in the two technologies, research and development of their software stacks have differed greatly, with a lack-thereof for CV devices. The goal of this thesis is to explain and analyze the compilers implemented by Strawberry Fields -- cross platform python library to simulate and execute programs on photonic hardware -- and propose an additional compilation step that will enable future, more flexible hardware implementations.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Quantum computers; Computer architecture; Compilers (Computer programs)

Publication Date

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Computer Engineering (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Computer Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Sonia Lopez Alarcon

Advisor/Committee Member

Amlan Ganguly

Advisor/Committee Member

Gregory Howland

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

CMPE-MS

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