Barnes, K M; Buyskikh, A; Chen, N Y; Gallardo, G; Ghibaudi, M; Ruszala, M J A; Underwood, D S; Agarwal, A; Lall, D; Rungger, I; Schoinas, N (2023) Optimising the quantum/classical interface for efficiency and portability with a multi-level hardware abstraction layer for quantum computers. EPJ Quantum Technology, 10. 36

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Abstract

This document sets out a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for quantum computers based on four leading qubit technologies: superconducting qubits, trapped-ion qubits, photonic systems and silicon-based qubits. The aim is to define a multi-level HAL that makes software portable across platforms but not at the cost of performance. The HAL allows high-level quantum computer users, such as application developers, platform and system software engineers, cross-platform software architects, to abstract away the hardware implementation details while keeping the performance.

This document defines the HAL levels, categorised by the types of applications that they enable. The definition includes the general HAL architecture, HAL features (e.g. which commands need to be implemented) and the HAL specification format. The document does not define the HAL implementation or how to compile/transpile between the different levels. This document is a part of the NISQ.OS ISCF project as a collaborative effort of ARM, Duality Quantum Photonics, Hitachi Europe Limited, the National Physical Laboratory, Oxford Ionics, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Riverlane, Seeqc, and Universal Quantum.

This joint project’s commitment is to implement applications that require the fastest classical/quantum interaction, such as measurement and control-based applications and error correction. Deltaflow.OS, the operating system for quantum computers which will be developed within the ISCF NISQ.OS project, builds on this open HAL specification.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Quantum Phenomena > Quantum Information Processing and Communication
Divisions:	Quantum Technologies
Identification number/DOI:	10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00192-z
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2023 14:41
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/9882