Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2023 - 34

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34
TB TBTV Materials Ad 1223_1.indd 1
11/20/23 9:38 AM
SNL scientists Alicia Magann (right) Kenneth Rudinger (top left), Mohan
Sarovar (bottom left), and Matthew Grace, not pictured, developed Feedback-based
Algorithm for Quantum Optimization, or FALQON, as a new
framework for programming quantum computers, an emerging technology
that could become a powerful tool for global security. (Image: Robin
Blume-Kohout/SNL)
variational approach might not be practical when quantum computers
finally become capable of living up to their promise.
" We have good reason to believe that the size of the kinds of
problems you would want to solve is too large for the variational
approach; at that scale it becomes essentially impossible for
the conventional computer to find good settings for the quantum
device, " he said.
The Sandia team succeeded in greatly reducing the role of classical
computing. With the new framework, called FALQON -
short for Feedback-based Algorithm for Quantum Optimization
- the classical computer does not do any optimization. It only
needs the computational power of a calculator, letting the quantum
computer do all the heavy lifting and theoretically allowing it
to work on much more complicated problems, like how to efficiently
reroute a shipping fleet when a major port suddenly closes.
A framework, in this case, means a structure for how to write
an algorithm. Sandia's core concept is for a quantum computer
to repeatedly adapt its structure as it moves through a calculation.
Layers of quantum computing gates, the building blocks
of quantum algorithms, are determined by measurements of
the output of previous layers through a feedback process.
Until quantum computers become more powerful, the
framework is largely a theoretical tool that can only be tested
on problems classical computers can already solve. However,
the team believes the framework shows great potential for formulating
useful algorithms for the medium-to-large-scale quantum
computers of the future.
For more information contact Troy Rummler at trummle@
sandia.gov; 505-249-3632.
www.techbriefs.com
Tech Briefs, December 2023

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Tech Briefs Magazine - December 2023

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