Optimal State Preparation for Logical Arrays on Zoned Neutral Atom Quantum Computers

TL;DR

This paper develops optimized scheduling algorithms for state preparation in zoned neutral atom quantum computers, improving fidelity and efficiency essential for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel SMT-based approach for minimal schedule generation tailored to zoned neutral atom architectures, filling a gap in existing software tools.

Findings

Active zone utilization improves qubit fidelity.

SMT-based scheduling reduces preparation time.

Open-source implementation available in MQT.

Abstract

Quantum computing promises to solve problems previously deemed infeasible. However, high error rates necessitate quantum error correction for practical applications. Seminal experiments with zoned neutral atom architectures have shown remarkable potential for fault-tolerant quantum computing. To fully harness their potential, efficient software solutions are vital. A key aspect of quantum error correction is the initialization of physical qubits representing a logical qubit in a highly entangled state. This process, known as state preparation, is the foundation of most quantum error correction codes and, hence, a crucial step towards fault-tolerant quantum computing. Generating a schedule of target-specific instructions to perform the state preparation is highly complex. First software tools exist but are not suitable for the zoned neutral atom architectures. This work addresses this gap by leveraging the computational power of SMT solvers and generating minimal schedules for the state preparation of logical arrays. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that actively utilizing zones to shield idling qubits consistently results in higher fidelities than solutions disregarding these zones. The complete code is publicly available in open-source as part of the Munich Quantum Toolkit (MQT) at https://github.com/cda-tum/mqt-qmap/tree/main/src/na/nasp.