IBM Quantum announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing by introducing an innovative end-to-end quantum-focused supercomputing (QCSC) workflow powered by the Qiskit C API. The innovation is a major milestone on the path to merging quantum computing capabilities into high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
The Qiskit C API, debuted earlier this year, is a compiled language interface for building quantum applications with native HPC programming languages like C and C++. It is essential for unlocking the full potential of QCSC, a new framework IBM expects to enable the first demonstrations of quantum advantage by the end of 2026.
The most recent release, Qiskit SDK v2.2, extends the C API by introducing a specific transpiler function for transpiling quantum circuits. This feature allows developers to construct and run end-to-end quantum workflows in compiled languages, including all four phases of a standard quantum computing process: mapping, optimization, execution, and post-processing on classical HPC hardware.
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IBM has released a new quantum + HPC workflow demo to demonstrate these abilities. The demo provides step-by-step guidance and working code for executing a sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) algorithm—a near-term candidate for quantum advantage demonstration. The implementation uses OpenMP and MPI (Message Passing Interface), prevalent paradigms for parallel computing in HPC, to support parallel execution of classical post-processing.
Quantum computing being integrated into HPC environments is on the verge of speeding up the creation of sophisticated simulations and optimizations in multiple sectors, such as materials science, pharmaceuticals, and energy. IBM Quantum continues to work towards promoting the quantum computing field and enabling the achievement of quantum advantage by pushing forward with innovation and cooperation.