On the meaning of "quantum supremacy" experiments

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the concept of 'quantum supremacy', arguing that classical analog systems can also outperform supercomputers in certain tasks, challenging the uniqueness of quantum advantage.

Contribution

It introduces the idea of 'analog supremacy' by showing classical chaotic systems can rival quantum devices in specific computational tasks.

Findings

Quantum chaotic systems are hard to simulate classically.

Classical mechanical systems can achieve similar 'supremacy' in certain tasks.

The term 'quantum supremacy' may be misleading in some contexts.

Abstract

The recently reported experimental results claiming "quantum supremacy" achieved by Google quantum device are critically discussed. The Google team constructed a quantum chaotic system based on Josephson junction technology which cannot be reliably simulated by the present day supercomputers. However, the similar "supremacy" can be realized for properly designed micro-mechanical devices, like periodically forced Duffing oscillator, using the available technology of quartz clocks. It is also reminded that classical and quantum chaotic systems behave in a similar way. Therefore, in this case, one should speak rather about the "analog supremacy" than "quantum supremacy" what means that even now mechanical analog computers can outperform supercomputers when the computational task can be reduced to sampling of ergodic measures generated by chaotic systems.