Hybrid Oscillator-Qubit Quantum Processors: Instruction Set Architectures, Abstract Machine Models, and Applications
Name
4rf7-9tfx.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
8.05 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
9ccf65db15077b452d54e3470b72219d
Author(s)
Liu, Yuan
Singh, Shraddha
Smith, Kevin C
Crane, Eleanor
Martyn, John M
Eickbusch, Alec
Schuckert, Alexander
Li, Richard D
Sinanan-Singh, Jasmine
Soley, Micheline B
Date Issued
January 7, 2026
Journal
PRX Quantum
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Version
Final published version
Abstract
This tutorial offers a pedagogical guide to hybrid quantum processors that integrate discrete-variable (DV) qubits and continuous-variable (CV) oscillators. Aimed at computer scientists, engineers, and physicists, it provides an overview of the experimental, algorithmic, and architectural aspects of this novel and rapidly developing hardware model. Experimental realizations of this model include superconducting, trapped-ion, and neutral-atom platforms. By combining DV and CV components, hybrid oscillator-qubit processors enable a powerful new paradigm that offers complementary strengths for quantum control, error correction, computation, and simulation. Working toward the goal of a full-stack system connecting applications to CV-DV hardware, we define and formulate abstract machine models and instruction set architectures. These essential abstractions enable codesign of hardware and software, and resource estimation for exploring the potential of current and future hardware for computational and simulation tasks. Using these abstractions, we present both new and existing examples that illustrate the benefits of hybrid CV-DV processors relative to traditional DV-only hardware in computation as well as quantum simulation of physical models. Examples include algorithms for transferring states between DV and CV systems, performing the quantum Fourier transform, and simulation of lattice gauge theories. Relative to qubit-only hardware, the bosonic degrees of freedom natively available in hybrid architectures can substantially reduce the circuit complexity of simulations for physical models containing bosons. A key technique is the extension of quantum signal processing ideas to CV-DV systems. This work is intended to serve as a timely and comprehensive guide to this relatively unexplored yet promising approach to quantum computation and to provide a road map to guide future development.
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/4rf7-9tfx
