Qoala: an Application Execution Environment for Quantum Internet Nodes

TL;DR

Qoala extends QNodeOS to support hybrid classical-quantum programs with a unified format and runtime, enabling joint scheduling and multitasking, validated through extensive simulation and aimed at future real hardware deployment.

Contribution

Introduction of Qoala, a novel execution environment for quantum network nodes that unifies program representation and scheduling for hybrid quantum-classical applications.

Findings

Qoala effectively models hybrid programs with joint scheduling.

Simulation results show Qoala's performance sensitivity to latencies.

Framework facilitates future research in quantum network scheduling.

Abstract

Recently, a first-of-its-kind operating system for programmable quantum network nodes was developed, called QNodeOS. Here, we present an extension of QNodeOS called Qoala, which introduces (1) a unified program format for hybrid interactive classical-quantum programs, providing a well-defined target for compilers, and (2) a runtime representation of a program that allows joint scheduling of the hybrid classical-quantum program, multitasking, and asynchronous program execution. Based on concrete design considerations, we put forward the architecture of Qoala, including the program structure and execution mechanism. We implement Qoala in the form of a modular and extendible simulator that is validated against real-world quantum network hardware (available online). However, Qoala is not meant to be purely a simulator, and implementation is planned on real hardware. We evaluate Qoala's effectiveness and performance sensitivity to latencies and network schedules using an extensive simulation study. Qoala provides a framework that opens the door for future computer science research into quantum network applications, including scheduling algorithms and compilation strategies that can now readily be explored using the framework and tools provided.