Simon's algorithm in the NISQ cloud

Abstract

Simon’s algorithm was one of the first to demonstrate a genuine quantum advantage in solving a problem. The algorithm, however, assumes access to fault-tolerant qubits. In our work, we use Simon’s algorithm to benchmark the error rates of devices currently available in the “quantum cloud”. As a main result, we objectively compare the different physical platforms made available by IBM and IonQ. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the device architectures and topologies when transpiling quantum algorithms onto hardware. For instance, we demonstrate that two-qubit operations on spatially separated qubits on superconducting chips should be avoided.