Local and Distributed Quantum Computation

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental advances in quantum processors, focusing on topological error correction models and distributed architectures, highlighting progress towards scalable quantum computing.

Contribution

It compiles recent experimental results on quantum processors, emphasizing topological coding and distributed architectures for scalable quantum computing.

Findings

Quantum processors now demonstrate small algorithm execution and error correction.

Topological coding models are emerging as practical for error correction.

Distributed memory architectures are being experimentally explored for scalability.

Abstract

Experimental groups are now fabricating quantum processors powerful enough to execute small instances of quantum algorithms and definitively demonstrate quantum error correction that extends the lifetime of quantum data, adding urgency to architectural investigations. Although other options continue to be explored, effort is coalescing around topological coding models as the most practical implementation option for error correction on realizable microarchitectures. Scalability concerns have also motivated architects to propose distributed memory multicomputer architectures, with experimental efforts demonstrating some of the basic building blocks to make such designs possible. We compile the latest results from a variety of different systems aiming at the construction of a scalable quantum computer.