Fabian Hader

Alperen Aksoy, Ilja Bekman, Vesselin Dimitrov et al.

This paper examines the use of Quantized Neural Networks (QNNs) for two resource-constrained scientific applications: automated calibration of semi-conductor quantum bits (qubits) and scientific particle detectors. We evaluate the trade-offs between Post-Training Quantization (PTQ), Quantization-Aware Training (QAT), and ultra-low-bit Binary Neural Networks (BNNs) with respect to latency and resource usage. Our results demonstrate that PTQ achieves a four-fold reduction in memory usage for U-shaped CNN (U-Net) architectures while maintaining or slightly enhancing segmentation accuracy (e.g. from 89% to 90% for a small U-Net with 447 parameters). For the training of non-differentiable custom BNNs , we propose a novel, hardware-constrained learning approach using Genetic Algorithms (GAs). We showcase a LUT-based BNN architecture suitable for direct conversion to VHDL via the HCL4BNN framework. This method achieves nanosecond-scale inference latencies (10-15 ns) without requiring specialized DSP or BRAM resources.

Justyna P. Zwolak, Jacob M. Taylor, Reed W. Andrews et al.

Gate-defined quantum dots are a promising candidate system for realizing scalable, coupled qubit systems and serving as a fundamental building block for quantum computers. However, present-day quantum dot devices suffer from imperfections that must be accounted for, which hinders the characterization, tuning, and operation process. Moreover, with an increasing number of quantum dot qubits, the relevant parameter space grows sufficiently to make heuristic control infeasible. Thus, it is imperative that reliable and scalable autonomous tuning approaches are developed. This meeting report outlines current challenges in automating quantum dot device tuning and operation with a particular focus on datasets, benchmarking, and standardization. We also present insights and ideas put forward by the quantum dot community on how to overcome them. We aim to provide guidance and inspiration to researchers invested in automation efforts.