JUPITER Supercomputer Simulates 50 Qubit Quantum computer
The JUPITER supercomputer breaks the quantum benchmark with its 50-qubit simulation.
50-Qubit Quantum Computer
The world's first full 50-qubit global quantum computer simulation was created by JUPITER, Europe's fastest supercomputer. German researchers at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) and NVIDIA specialists attained this milestone, marking a new classical computing performance zone.
The finding is similar to a universal quantum computer with 50 qubits. JUPITER, Europe's first exascale supercomputer, is located in the Jülich Supercomputing Centre in Germany. The record of 48 qubits was set by Jülich physicists prior to this accomplishment. The achievement shows the September-unveiled JUPITER system's huge potential.
Significance of Quantum Simulation Milestone Simulating a 50-qubit system is essential for quantum technology advancement. Future quantum technologies are tested in quantum computer simulations. Researchers can use them to explore complex molecular modelling methods like the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) and Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm. Before quantum processors are reliable, researchers can test these algorithms at full scale using classical systems.
Prof. Hans De Raedt, the study's lead author, said JUQCS-50 can accurately mimic universal quantum computers. This lets them solve challenging issues that quantum processors cannot. The Universal Quantum Simulation of 50 Qubits on Europe's First Exascale Supercomputer's Heterogeneous CPU-GPU Architecture describes this achievement. Authors include Hans De Raedt, Jiri Kraus, Andreas Herten, Vrinda Mehta, Mathis Bode, Markus Hrywniak, Kristel Michielsen, and Thomas Lippert.
Breaking Classical Boundaries: Exponential Challenge Due to exponential resource costs, quantum circuit simulation on conventional computers is notoriously difficult. The simulation requires double the memory and processing power per qubit. Average laptops can only handle 30 qubits.
Simulating 50 qubits required tremendous resources. The simulation requires two petabytes of memory and complete orchestration of JUPITER's cutting-edge GH200 Superchips. Prof. Kristel Michielsen noted that only the world's largest supercomputers can supply that memory, demonstrating the close relationship between HPC and quantum research.
The simulation accurately simulates quantum processor mechanics. Each quantum gate action affects more than 2 quadrillion complex numbers, which must be synchronised across thousands of processing nodes on a scale that made simulations practically unfeasible.
Tech Innovations Drive Success
Innovative features of JSC's Jülich Universal Quantum Computer Simulator (JUQCS) led to the breakthrough. The new JUQCS-50 version takes advantage of the hybrid memory architecture and key features of the NVIDIA GH200 Superchips in the JUPITER supercomputer.
JUQCS-50 set the 50-qubit record using three major advances:
The application expands usable memory beyond GPU restrictions by using LPDDR5 memory and high-bandwidth CPU-GPU interconnects. This feature minimises performance loss when data is temporarily offloaded from GPU to CPU memory.
Adaptive Data Encoding: A novel byte-encoding compression technology greatly reduced memory use. This technique cuts memory needs by eight, with acceptable trade-offs in computational effort and precision.
An on-the-fly network traffic optimiser optimised data flow between the over 16,000 Superchips during the experiment.
These innovations accelerated performance by 11.4-fold over the K computer's 48-qubit record simulation.
Building Future Infrastructure
Jülich and NVIDIA engineers collaborated on the research under the JUPITER Research and Early Access Programme (JUREAP). Dr. Andreas Herten praised this early cooperation, which allowed JUPITER's software and hardware to be co-designed.
JUNIQ (Julich UNified Infrastructure for Quantum Computing) will add JUQCS-50, a powerful simulation tool. This connection gives outside scholars and corporations access to the technology. JUQCS-50 is expected to be a benchmark for next-generation supercomputer performance and a vital research engine.
By combining high-performance computers with quantum research, JUPITER sets the framework for rapid field development.