New Virtual Quantum Device Enhances Quantum Computing Emulation

The Virtual Quantum Device (VQD) is a new platform designed to facilitate the emulation of quantum computers, allowing users to simulate specific quantum systems with detailed error models and customized gate sets. Developed by Cica Gustiani, Tyson Jones, and Simon C. Benjamin, the VQD is based on the QuEST quantum emulator and aims to make quantum computing more accessible to non-expert users.

The VQD platform features an intuitive interface and is compatible with high-performance computing resources, enabling effective testing and optimization of complex quantum algorithms. It supports five families of virtual quantum devices, which correspond to various quantum technologies, including trapped ions, nitrogen-vacancy centers, neutral atom arrays, silicon quantum dot spins, and superconducting devices. Each virtual device can be configured through tailored parameters, allowing researchers to explore algorithms and protocols in a realistic setting.

The authors highlight the practical applications of the VQD, showcasing its ability to provide user-friendly descriptions of diverse quantum hardware. This capability enables hardware experts to create their own virtual devices for comparison with experimental results. The VQD is expected to enhance research in quantum computing by providing a platform for rapid exploration of new ideas and algorithms.

For further details, the paper titled "The Virtual Quantum Device (VQD): A tool for detailed emulation of quantum computers" can be accessed on arXiv with the identifier arXiv:2306.07342.