Simulation of Networked Quantum Computing on Encrypted Data

TL;DR

This paper presents a classical simulation and real quantum implementation of secure remote quantum computation protocols, analyzing their functionality and noise effects on near-term quantum hardware.

Contribution

It demonstrates the first classical simulation and real quantum implementation of a secure quantum computation protocol on IBM's 16-qubit chip.

Findings

Protocol functions correctly in simulation and on real hardware

Noise impacts the fidelity of quantum computations

Feasibility of secure quantum computation on near-term devices

Abstract

Due to the limited availability of quantum computing power in the near future, cryptographic security techniques must be developed for secure remote use of current and future quantum computing hardware. Prominent among these is Universal Blind Quantum Computation (UBQC) and its variations such as Quantum Fully Homomorphic Encryption (QFHE), which herald interactive and remote secure quantum computing power becoming available to parties that require little more than the ability to prepare and measure single qubits. Here I present a simulation of such a protocol, tested classically on the simulation platform LIQ$Ui|\rangle$ and then later adapted to and run on the recently released IBM 16-qubit quantum chip using their beta cloud service. It demonstrates the functionality of the protocol and explores the effects of noise on potential physical systems that would be used to implement it. BSc Thesis from the University of Edinburgh, December 2017