Distinguished Lecture: Physics-Aware, Full-Stack Software to Accelerate Practical Quantum

Abstract: Quantum software can be a force multiplier that can significantly
shorten the timeline for utility-scale results from quantum hardware.
In particular, several key research directions will help realize
practical quantum advantage. Physics-aware, cross-layer optimizations
will continue to yield important efficiencies to allow
applications to make the most of quantum resources. Software-directed
noise-aware optimization and error correction, in particular, will be key to increasing
gate depths and maintaining acceptable output fidelity.
Pulse-level optimizations and specialized native gates will
also be key enablers. Additionally, applications will be hybrid
computations involving high-performance classical resources
as well as quantum hardware serving as special-purpose accelerators.
Effectively partitioning computations between these
classical and quantum resources will be necessary to support
realistic applications. Additionally, deep compiler optimization
and classical simulation of Clifford and near-Clifford circuits
can also be important classical investments towards more
efficient quantum computations.

Bio: Fred Chong is the Seymour Goodman Professor in the Department of Computer Science

at the University of Chicago and the Chief Scientist for Quantum Software at Infleqtion. 

Chong is a member of the National Quantum Advisory Committee (NQIAC) which provides

advice to the President on the National Quantum Initiative Program.

In 2020, he co-founded Super.tech, a quantum software company, which was acquired by Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta) in 2022. Chong received his Ph.D. from MIT in 1996

and was a faculty member and Chancellor's fellow at UC Davis from 1997-2005. He was also a Professor of Computer Science, Director of Computer Engineering, and Director of the Greenscale Center for Energy-Efficient Computing at UCSB from 2005-2015. He is a fellow of the ACM and the IEEE, a recipient of the NSF CAREER award, the Intel Outstanding Researcher Award, and 16 best paper awards. He is also a recipient of the Quantrell Award, the oldest undergraduate teaching award in the United States, as well as the University of Chicago's Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award.