A Practical Introduction to Benchmarking and Characterization of Quantum Computers

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive tutorial on quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV) methods, explaining core concepts, protocols, and their scalability for assessing quantum computer performance.

Contribution

It introduces fundamental QCVV principles, surveys a wide range of protocols, and discusses their advantages, disadvantages, and scalability for large-scale quantum systems.

Findings

Detailed overview of QCVV tools and protocols

Illustrated examples of benchmarking methods

Discussion on scalability to large quantum computers

Abstract

Rapid progress in quantum technology has transformed quantum computing and quantum information science from theoretical possibilities into tangible engineering challenges. Breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, quantum simulations, and quantum error correction are bringing useful quantum computation closer to fruition. These remarkable achievements have been facilitated by advances in quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV). QCVV methods and protocols enable scientists and engineers to scrutinize, understand, and enhance the performance of quantum information-processing devices. In this tutorial, we review the fundamental principles underpinning QCVV, and introduce a diverse array of QCVV tools used by quantum researchers. We define and explain QCVV's core models and concepts -- quantum states, measurements, and processes -- and illustrate how these building blocks are leveraged to examine a target system or operation. We survey and introduce protocols ranging from simple qubit characterization to advanced benchmarking methods. Along the way, we provide illustrated examples and detailed descriptions of the protocols, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each, and discuss their potential scalability to future large-scale quantum computers. This tutorial serves as a guidebook for researchers unfamiliar with the benchmarking and characterization of quantum computers, and also as a detailed reference for experienced practitioners.