- 2019-10-23 12:05:04
- Article ID: 721265
Quantum supremacy milestone harnesses ORNL Summit supercomputer
A joint research team from Google Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has demonstrated that a quantum computer can outperform a classical computer at certain tasks, a feat known as quantum supremacy.
Quantum computers use the laws of quantum mechanics and units known as qubits to greatly increase the threshold at which information can be transmitted and processed. Whereas traditional “bits” have a value of either 0 or 1, qubits are encoded with values of both 0 and 1, or any combination thereof, allowing for a vast number of possibilities for storing data.
While still in their early stages, quantum systems have the potential to be exponentially more powerful than today’s leading classical computing systems and promise to revolutionize research in materials, chemistry, high-energy physics, and across the scientific spectrum. The team’s results, published today in Nature, provide a proof of concept for quantum supremacy and establish a baseline comparison of time-to-solution and energy consumption.
“This achievement of quantum supremacy is a testament to the strength of American innovation, and DOE’s Labs are helping lead the way in this groundbreaking area of research,” DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar said. “The mastery of quantum technology is creating a new Information Age that offers new ways to process information to benefit science and society.”
In this case the quantum computer, built by Google and dubbed Sycamore, consisted of 53 qubits. The classical computer was ORNL’s Summit, housed at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) and ranked as the world’s most powerful thanks to its more than 4,600 compute nodes.
Both systems performed a task known as random circuit sampling (RCS), designed specifically to measure the performance of quantum devices such as Sycamore. The simulations took 200 seconds on the quantum computer; after running the same simulations on Summit the team extrapolated that the calculations would have taken the world’s most powerful system more than 10,000 years to complete with current state-of-the-art algorithms, providing experimental evidence of quantum supremacy and critical information for the design of future quantum computers. Not only was Sycamore faster than its classical counterpart, but it was also approximately 10 million times more energy efficient.
The researchers also estimated the performance of individual components to accurately predict the performance of the entire Sycamore device, demonstrating that quantum information behaves consistently as it is scaled up—a necessary property for the design of large-scale quantum computers.
“This experiment establishes that today’s quantum computers can outperform the best conventional computing for a synthetic benchmark,” said ORNL researcher and Director of the laboratory’s Quantum Computing Institute Travis Humble. “There have been other efforts to try this, but our team is the first to demonstrate this result on a real system.”
That real system was critical. Researchers at Google and NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley attempting to tackle the problem using NASA resources quickly realized they needed a more powerful computer. And none are more powerful than ORNL’s Summit.
Porting a quantum calculation to the classical Summit was no easy task. The RCS simulator, known as qFlex, initially included a CPU-only implementation. Summit, however, derives much of its world-class speed from NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), which tackle computationally intensive math problems while the CPUs efficiently direct tasks.
A library developed by the OLCF’s Dmitry Liakh for performing tensor algebra operations on multicore CPUs and GPUs allowed the team to take advantage of all of Summit which, along with the IBM system’s 512 gigabytes of memory per node, increased the speed of the simulation 46-fold per node (using 4,550 of Summit’s nodes) as compared to the previous implementation that ran solely on CPUs.
“That the simulation proving the validity of a next-generation architecture such as quantum was run on ORNL’s Summit is indicative of the lab’s long history of accelerated computing innovation and the necessity of classical supercomputers in realizing the potential of quantum computing,” ORNL Associate Laboratory Director for Computing and Computational Sciences Jeff Nichols said.
ORNL’s Titan was the first leadership computing system to harness the power of GPUs, allowing it to debut at number one in 2012 and remain among the top 10 world’s most powerful systems until 2018. It was Titan’s success that enabled the development of Summit and, by extension, is driving the design of Frontier, slated to be among the nation’s first exascale computers when it is delivered in 2021.
The laboratory has been planning for post-exascale platforms for more than a decade via dedicated research programs in quantum computing, networking, sensing and quantum materials. These efforts aim to accelerate the understanding of how near-term quantum computing resources can help tackle today’s most daunting scientific challenges and support the recently announced National Quantum Initiative, a federal effort to ensure American leadership in quantum sciences, particularly computing.
Such leadership will require systems like Summit to ensure the steady march from devices such as Sycamore to larger-scale quantum systems exponentially more powerful than anything in operation today.
“Realizing the potential of quantum computing requires partnerships that leverage the strengths of innovators like Google and ORNL,” ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia said. “This milestone is an inspiration to the next generation of researchers who will help push the frontiers of what’s possible in computing and scientific discovery.”
The research was supported by DOE’s Office of Science. The OLCF is a DOE Office of Science User Facility.
UT-Battelle LLC manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.

MORE NEWS FROM
Oak Ridge National LaboratoryParticipating Labs
- DOE Office of Science
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Iowa State University, Ames Laboratory
- Brookhaven National Laboratory
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Batten down the hatches: Preventing heat leaks to help create a star on Earth
PPPL physicists have identified a method by which instabilities can be tamed and heat can be prevented from leaking from fusion plasma, giving scientists a better grasp on how to optimize conditions for fusion in devices known as tokamaks.

Quenching Water Scarcity with a Good Pore
Researchers at UC San Diego and MIT linked theory and experiment to move closer to developing materials that address global water scarcity.

Simulations Attempt to Reconstruct One of the Most Explosive Events in the Universe: A Neutron Star Merger
A team led by scientists that included Berkeley Lab researchers has simulated the formation of a disc of matter, a giant burst of ejected matter, and the startup of energetic jets in the aftermath of a merger by two neutron stars.

Tiny Quantum Sensors Watch Materials Transform Under Pressure
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a diamond anvil sensor that could lead to a new generation of smart, designer materials, as well as the synthesis of new chemical compounds, atomically fine-tuned by pressure.

Scientists harvest energy from light using bio-inspired artificial cells
By replicating biological machinery with non-biological components, scientists have created artificial cells that convert light into chemical energy.

Argonne's debt to 2019 Nobel Prize for lithium-ion battery
A roar of approval rang out at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory upon the announcement in October that John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino had won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. On December 10th in Stockholm, they received this highly coveted prize for their major contributions to the invention of the lithium-ion battery, which is a long-standing major focus of research at Argonne.

Battery collaboration meeting discusses new pathways to recycle lithium-ion batteries
At a conference held by the ReCell Center, an advanced battery recycling collaboration based at Argonne, representatives from industry, government, and academia discussed innovative approaches for lithium-ion battery recycling.

New Function for Plant Enzyme Could Lead to Green Chemistry
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered a new function in a plant enzyme that could inspire the design of new chemical catalysts. The enzyme catalyzes, or initiates, one of the cornerstone chemical reactions needed to synthesize a wide array of organic molecules, including those found in lubricants, cosmetics, and those used as raw materials for making plastics.

Freeze Frame: Scientists Capture Atomic-Scale Snapshots of Artificial Proteins
Scientists at Berkeley Lab are the first to use cryo-EM (cryogenic electron microscopy), a Nobel Prize-winning technique originally designed to image proteins in solution, to image atomic changes in a synthetic soft material.

Argonne Collaboration Shows Benefits of Better Corn Residue Management Strategies
Sustainable corn stover removal can maintain soil carbon stock, according a new Argonne-led study.

James Wilson Clark, PPPL's first deputy director for administrative operations, was a decorated World War II veteran, experienced federal administrator, and active member of the Princeton community
James W. Clark, PPPL's first deputy director for administrative operations, was a decorated World War II veteran with a long career in public service, who died Aug. 6. A memorial service in his honor will be held Dec. 21.
Department of Energy to Provide $24 Million in EPSCoR Grants for Energy-Related Research
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a funding opportunity for up to $24 million for new grants under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DOE EPSCoR).

University of Kentucky Grant Seeks to Turn Coal Into Carbon Fiber
UK's Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) has received a $1.8 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to transform coal tar pitch into high-value carbon fiber for use in aircraft, automobiles, sporting goods and other high-performance materials.

Six Berkeley Lab Scientists Named AAAS Fellows
Six scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

PPPL is recognized for being green
The U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its green practices in reducing waste, energy, and water, and transportation, and for green purchasing and electronics recycling.

Dmitri Zakharov Recognized with the 2019 Chuck Fiori Award
The award honors Dmitri Zakharov's contributions to environmental transmission electron microscopy at Brookhaven Lab's Center for Functional Nanomaterials.

Two Argonne projects earn Secretary of Energy Honor Awards
With this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for the development of lithium-ion batteries, directors of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research share perspectives on the future of energy storage.

Argonne teams up with Altair to manage use of upcoming Aurora supercomputer
Argonne National Laboratory and Altair, a global technology company, have created a new scheduling system that will be employed on the Aurora supercomputer.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County wins DOE's 2019 CyberForce Competition(tm)
After a long suspenseful day, University of Maryland, Baltimore County earned the top spot as national winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's CyberForce Competition.

In its 15th year, INCITE advances open science with supercomputer grants to 47 projects
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science announced allocations of supercomputer access to 47 science projects for 2020--awarding 60 percent of the available time on some of the nation's most powerful supercomputers, with the ultimate goal of accelerating discovery and innovation. In 2020, 14 projects will run on Theta and 39 projects on Summit, where six of these projects will receive an allocation on both systems.

Harvesting Energy from Light using Bio-inspired Artificial Cells
Scientists designed and connected two different artificial cells to each other to produce molecules called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Engineering Living Scaffolds for Building Materials
Bone and mollusk shells are composite systems that combine living cells and inorganic components. This allows them to regenerate and change structure while also being very strong and durable. Borrowing from this amazing complexity, researchers have been exploring a new class of materials called engineered living materials (ELMs).

Excavating Quantum Information Buried in Noise
Researchers developed two new methods to assess and remove error in how scientists measure quantum systems. By reducing quantum "noise" - uncertainty inherent to quantum processes - these new methods improve accuracy and precision.

How Electrons Move in a Catastrophe
Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) is a widely applicable material, from magnetic tunnel junctions to solid oxide fuel cells. However, when it gets thin, its behavior changes for the worse. The reason why was not known. Now, using two theoretical methods, a team determined what happens.

When Ions and Molecules Cluster
How an ion behaves when isolated within an analytical instrument can differ from how it behaves in the environment. Now, Xue-Bin Wang at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory devised a way to bring ions and molecules together in clusters to better discover their properties and predict their behavior.

Tune in to Tetrahedral Superstructures
Shape affects how the particles fit together and, in turn, the resulting material. For the first time, a team observed the self-assembly of nanoparticles with tetrahedral shapes.

Tracing Interstellar Dust Back to the Solar System's Formation
This study is the first to confirm dust particles pre-dating the formation of our solar system. Further study of these materials will enable a deeper understanding of the processes that formed and have since altered them.

Investigating Materials that Can Go the Distance in Fusion Reactors
Future fusion reactors will require materials that can withstand extreme operating conditions, including being bombarded by high-energy neutrons at high temperatures. Scientists recently irradiated titanium diboride (TiB2) in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) to better understand the effects of fusion neutrons on performance.

Better 3-D Imaging of Tumors in the Breast with Less Radiation
In breast cancer screening, an imaging technique based on nuclear medicine is currently being used as a successful secondary screening tool alongside mammography to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. Now, a team is hoping to improve this imaging technique.

Microbes are Metabolic Specialists
Scientists can use genetic information to measure if microbes in the environment can perform specific ecological roles. Researchers recently analyzed the genomes of over 6,000 microbial species.
Spotlight

Barbara Garcia: A first-generation college student spends summer doing research at PPPL
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Argonne organization's scholarship fund blazes STEM pathway
Argonne National Laboratory

Brookhaven Lab, Suffolk Girl Scouts Launch Patch Program
Brookhaven National Laboratory

From an acoustic levitator to a "Neutron Bloodhound" robot, hands-on research inspires PPPL's summer interns
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Brookhaven Lab Celebrates the Bright Future of its 2019 Interns
Brookhaven National Laboratory

PPPL apprenticeship program offers young people chance to earn while they learn high-tech careers
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

JSA Awards Graduate Fellowships for Research at Jefferson Lab
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

ILSAMP Symposium showcases benefits for diverse students, STEM pipeline
Argonne National Laboratory

Integrating Scientific Computing into Science Curricula
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Students from Minnesota and Massachusetts Win DOE's 29th National Science Bowl(r)
Department of Energy, Office of Science
DOE's Science Graduate Student Research Program Selects 70 Students to Pursue Research at DOE Laboratories
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Young Women's Conference in STEM seeks to change the statistics one girl at a time
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Students team with Argonne scientists and engineers to learn about STEM careers
Argonne National Laboratory

Lynbrook High wins 2019 SLAC Regional Science Bowl competition
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Equipping the next generation for a technological revolution
Argonne National Laboratory

Chemistry intern inspired by Argonne's real-world science
Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne intern streamlines the beamline
Argonne National Laboratory

Research on Light-Matter Interaction Could Lead to Improved Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Innovating Our Energy Future
Oregon State University, College of Engineering

Physics graduate student takes her thesis research to a Department of Energy national lab
University of Alabama at Birmingham

"Model" students enjoy Argonne campus life
Argonne National Laboratory

Writing Code for a More Skilled and Diverse STEM Workforce
Brookhaven National Laboratory

New graduate student summer school launches at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

The Gridlock State
California State University (CSU) Chancellor's Office

Meet Jasmine Hatcher and Trishelle Copeland-Johnson
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Argonne hosts Modeling, Experimentation and Validation Summer School
Argonne National Laboratory

Undergraduate Students Extoll Benefits of National Laboratory Research Internships in Fusion and Plasma Science
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Students affected by Hurricane Maria bring their research to SLAC
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Brookhaven Lab Pays Tribute to 2018 Summer Interns
Brookhaven National Laboratory

CSUMB Selected to Host Architecture at Zero Competition in 2019
California State University, Monterey Bay

From Hurricane Katrina Victim to Presidential Awardee: A SUNO Professor's Award-Winning Mentoring Efforts
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Department of Energy Invests $64 Million in Advanced Nuclear Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Professor Miao Yu Named the Priti and Mukesh Chatter '82 Career Development Professor
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

2018 RHIC & AGS Annual Users' Meeting: 'Illuminating the QCD Landscape'
Brookhaven National Laboratory

High-School Students Studying Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Cancer Drug Delivery Visit Brookhaven Lab's Nanocenter
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Argonne welcomes The Martian author Andy Weir
Argonne National Laboratory

UW Professor and Clean Energy Institute Director Daniel Schwartz Wins Highest U.S. Award for STEM Mentors
University of Washington

Creating STEM Knowledge and Innovations to Solve Global Issues Like Water, Food, and Energy
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA)

Professor Emily Liu Receives $1.8 Million DoE Award for Solar Power Systems Research
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Celebrating 40 years of empowerment in science
Argonne National Laboratory

Introducing Graduate Students Across the Globe to Photon Science
Brookhaven National Laboratory

Students from Massachusetts and Washington Win DOE's 28th National Science Bowl(r)
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Q&A: Al Ashley Reflects on His Efforts to Diversify SLAC and Beyond
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Insights on Innovation in Energy, Humanitarian Aid Highlight UVA Darden's Net Impact Week
University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Ivy League Graduate, Writer and Activist with Dyslexia Visits CSUCI to Reframe the Concept of Learning Disabilities
California State University, Channel Islands

Photographer Adam Nadel Selected as Fermilab's New Artist-in-Residence for 2018
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)
Showing results
0-4 Of 2215