QProv: A provenance system for quantum computing. Issue 4 (17th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weder, Benjamin; Barzen, Johanna; Leymann, Frank; Salm, Marie; Wild, Karoline
• Is Part Of: IET quantum communication. Volume 2:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2021-06-17
• Subjects: quantum computing; Quantum communication -- Periodicals; Quantum communication; Periodicals; 004.6
• DOI: 10.1049/qtc2.12012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2632-8925

Abstract

Abstract: Quantum computing promises breakthroughs in various application areas, such as machine learning, chemistry, or simulations. However, today's quantum computers are error‐prone and have limited capabilities. This leads to various challenges when developing and executing quantum algorithms, for example, the mitigation of occurring errors or the selection of a suitable quantum computer to execute a certain quantum circuit. To address these challenges, detailed information about the quantum circuit to be executed as well as past executions, and the up‐to‐date information about the available quantum computers are required. Thus, this data must be continuously collected and stored in the long‐term, which is currently not supported. To overcome this problem, a provenance approach is introduced for quantum computing. Therefore, relevant provenance attributes that should be gathered in the area of quantum computing are identified. Furthermore, QProv, a provenance system that automatically collects the identified provenance attributes and provides them in a uniform manner to the user is introduced. Finally, a case study with the collected provenance data and corresponding use cases that can benefit from this provenance data are presented here.