Quantum Computing Software HiQ

Huawei HiQ platform enables quantum computing research and is a future quantum computer software solution.

Industry Trends

Quantum computing (QC), proposed by famous physicist Richard Feynman and others in the 1980s, is widely recognized as a revolutionary future computing technology. Unlike traditional computers, quantum computers follow the laws of quantum mechanics and process information using quantum bits, called qubits. By employing quantum mechanical principles such as superposition and entanglement, as well as the reversibility of quantum circuits, quantum computers enable solving certain computational tasks exponentially faster than classical computers. As research progresses, QC significantly influence many areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), data search, chemistry simulation, and biopharmaceutics. However, QC commercialization faces tremendous technical challenges and requires breakthroughs in hardware and systems as well as software and algorithms. Currently, given the immature technology level and expensive, small-scale hardware, developing a quantum simulation platform and programming system using traditional computers is the most effective way of promoting QC hardware, software, and algorithm development. HiQ is the platform enabling Huawei QC research and a future-oriented QC software solution. HUAWEI CLOUD provides services for high-performance, large-scale quantum circuit simulation and will offer more services in the future.

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Business Challenges

Improving Quantum Chip Quality

Quantum chips require qubits with long coherence times, scalable design, attainable universal quantum gate set, and high-fidelity state initialization, control, and measurement. Quantum chips do not yet fully meet these criteria.
Optimizing Quantum Control and Error Correction Techniques

Systematic control of quantum hardware using software such as auto-calibration, pulse sequence optimization, error characterization and fault tolerance is critical to develop scalable, high-precision QC systems. Related technologies are far from mature.
Designing Quantum Software

Lack of application drivers, sufficiently small quantum hardware, and intuitive quantum programming pose challenges, as does high resource consumption by the quantum simulator.
Developing Quantum Algorithms

Limited number of developed quantum algorithms, difficulty innovating in core quantum algorithms, and lack of theoretical basis for hybrid classical-quantum programming.

Typical Scenarios

Before QC hardware matures, QC simulators running on classical computers vitally facilitate simulation debugging of quantum circuits, research and innovation in quantum algorithms, and development and verification of application software. Simulators are also crucial to the popularization of QC research and applications. You can use our quantum programming framework to easily write quantum programs and explore the infinite possibilities of quantum algorithms and applications.

Quantum hardware design and verification
Quantum software exploration, research, and verification in advance
Quantum algorithm exploration, design, and verification in advance
Education and popularization of QC

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Solution Architectures

Architecture of Quantum Computing Software as Cloud Services

Based on the QC software architecture, HUAWEI CLOUD provides a comprehensive high-performance quantum circuit simulation platform. It contains three common distributed simulators: a full-amplitude circuit simulator, a single-amplitude circuit simulator, and the first cloud-based error correction circuit simulator. It also provides a quantum programming framework, HiQ. The framework will continue to evolve alongside Huawei's research, and we will continue expanding its functionalities useful for QC research, education, and popularization. We are committed to working closely with a broad spectrum of developers, researchers, educators, and students to innovate and promote technical research and industrialization of QC. We are working with more than 20+ QC research teams, and will continue to expand partnerships to build a full-stack QC solution.

Highlights of Our Quantum Software and Cloud Services

Full-amplitude circuit simulator on the cloud: up to 42 qubits, with software performance 5 to 10 times higher than open-source counterparts
Powerful single-amplitude circuit simulator on the cloud: up to 81 qubits, 40+ layers, or 169 qubits with 20+ layers
The first cloud-based error correction circuit simulator: simulating circuits of 10,000+ qubits, with performance 5 to 15 times higher than similar software
QC programming framework HiQ: Unique quantum programming BlockUI makes hybrid classic-quantum programming simpler and more intuitive. Its algorithm library already contains 10+ important basic algorithms. HiQ is compatible with the well-known open-source project, ProjectQ, and will remain open-source.

Solution Advantages

High-Performance Simulation Platform

Three common distributed high-performance simulators are available: the full-amplitude circuit simulator supporting 42 qubits, single-amplitude circuit simulator supporting 81+ qubits, and a unique error correction circuit simulator.
Easy-to-Use, Full-Stack Programming Framework

Unique BlockUI, optimized compiling, support for multiple frontend and backend, and compatibility with ProjectQ
Open Ecosystem Cooperation

An open QC research and education platform promoting innovation through cooperation
Huawei Integrated ICT Technology

Abundant HUAWEI CLOUD computing resources, and traditional electronic control and other ICT technologies

Quantum Computing Software HiQ

Improving Quantum Chip Quality

Optimizing Quantum Control and Error Correction Techniques

Designing Quantum Software

Developing Quantum Algorithms

Quantum hardware design and verification

Quantum software exploration, research, and verification in advance

Quantum algorithm exploration, design, and verification in advance

Education and popularization of QC

Architecture of Quantum Computing Software as Cloud Services

Highlights of Our Quantum Software and Cloud Services

High-Performance Simulation Platform

Easy-to-Use, Full-Stack Programming Framework

Open Ecosystem Cooperation

Huawei Integrated ICT Technology