Collaboration between academia and industry is often the key to breakthroughs in emerging fields. Paul Wang, an MSc in Applied Computing (MScAC) program student interning at Xanadu, is part of such innovation.
Near-term quantum devices, accessible via commercial providers, need highly optimized circuits to run efficiently on hardware with limited qubits and circuit depth. Within this context, quantum compilers play a crucial role by transforming quantum programs into efficient, hardware-compatible code, enhancing device performance.
Wang’s research at Xanadu addressed a critical need in quantum computing: making quantum circuit compilation methods more versatile and accessible. Wang’s work not only supports improved resource allocation within quantum processors but also reduces computational overhead, accelerating applications in fields such as cryptography and quantum simulation.
“Xanadu’s supportive and welcoming atmosphere was the key to my project’s success,” says Wang. “Taming the fierce dragon of quantum compilers was never a one-person job. It could only be done through teamwork and collaboration.”
Moving Quantum Computing Toward Broader Use
Founded in 2016, Xanadu is a Toronto-based quantum computing startup dedicated to making full-stack quantum technology accessible and useful across industries. Xanadu combines expertise in silicon photonics, quantum algorithms, and software development to expand quantum’s potential.
At the heart of Xanadu’s software initiative is PennyLane, an open-source, hardware-agnostic library that simplifies quantum programming. While quantum computers are now commercially available, their applications are mostly limited to researchers and experts in the field. For quantum technology to bring wider benefits, recent advances in hybrid quantum-classical methods and quantum-compatible backpropagation must become accessible to more users, including in machine learning.
Wang’s project focuses on enhancing PennyLane’s functionality in quantum circuit compilation, specifically for near-term quantum devices limited by qubit count and circuit depth. By advancing circuit optimization tools in PennyLane, Wang’s work is helping make quantum resources more accessible, providing users with tools to design efficient quantum circuits that meet real-world constraints.
Addressing Hardware Constraints with Quantum Compilation
Wang’s work involved an extensive review of current compilation algorithms and techniques to identify promising options, as well as implementing these within PennyLane for users to access. Additionally, Wang explored ways to increase the efficiency, versatility, and structure of PennyLane’s existing compilation transformations, supporting scalability and adaptability. Wang’s work is now part of the latest release of Catalyst, Xanadu’s just-in-time compiler for PennyLane programs.
By optimizing quantum circuits, Wang’s project expands the capabilities of quantum processors, positioning them as an increasingly viable tool within the high-performance computing landscape alongside CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs. This work broadens the potential applications of quantum computing, making it a more practical option for machine learning practitioners and beyond, bringing Xanadu’s vision of accessible, impactful quantum technology closer to reality.
Bridging Academia and Industry in Quantum Computing
Throughout his internship, Wang was supervised by Nathan Killoran, CTO of software, at Xanadu, and Hans-Arno Jacobsen, a professor in the University of Toronto’s department of electrical and computer engineering.
“Paul has brought great passion and know-how to our team this year,” says Killoran. “We’ve been so pleased with his contributions that we’ve offered him a full-time job after his graduation from the MScAC program.”
Xanadu’s mission and growth demonstrate the power of applied research to advance quantum computing toward practical, transformative use. With more than $275 million in funding and a team of more than 220 experts in quantum theory, machine learning, software development, and hardware engineering, Xanadu is positioned to drive innovation that could redefine computing and offer new possibilities for industries and researchers, fulfilling its vision of widely beneficial quantum computing.
