Speaker
Description
Quantum batteries (QBs) are emerging as a promising paradigm for energy storage and management at the quantum scale, offering new functionalities in quantum technologies. In this work, we propose that quantum actuators can be interpreted as quantum batteries due to their role in enabling and controlling quantum operations. By leveraging the properties of superconducting qubits, these actuators provide a means of energy storage and selective activation of computational resources, making them an integral component in quantum processors.
Our focus is on globally driven QPUs, such as the LADDER [arXiv:2407.01182] and CONVEYOR-BELT [arXiv:2412.11782] architectures, where operations on the quantum register are controlled globally rather than through local addressing. In these architectures, a quantum actuator is implemented as a superconducting qubit constrained to classical states, either the ground or excited state, without requiring quantum superposition. Each actuator is coupled to one or multiple computational qubits via the longitudinal ZZ interaction, such that its state determines the accessibility of the connected qubits. When the actuator is in the excited state, the computational qubits experience a blockade effect, preventing them from being in an excited state and thereby deactivating certain operations. Conversely, when the actuator is in the ground state, it remains inert, allowing the computational qubits to function normally. This mechanism provides a novel layer of programmability, effectively allowing dynamic control over the QPU.
Quantum actuators function as quantum batteries by holding and transferring quantum excitations to computational qubits. The ability to switch between active and inactive computational states mimics the discharge and recharge processes of classical batteries, but with direct integration within the quantum computational framework. This dual functionality—acting both as a control mechanism and an energy reservoir—positions quantum actuators as a new class of quantum batteries that do not simply store energy but regulate its distribution within a computational setting.
This approach enables energy-efficient quantum computation. By dynamically activating only necessary regions of the QPU, quantum batteries reduce idle qubit operations, mitigating unwanted decoherence and dissipation. This enhances coherence time while minimizing overall energy expenditure. Furthermore, since superconducting qubits have well-established techniques for state preparation and readout, quantum batteries based on such architectures can be readily implemented in near-term quantum hardware.
In conclusion, quantum actuators can be used to quantumly program a processor by dynamically controlling single-qubit and multi-qubit gates, as well as entire regions of the QPU. This work highlights the intersection of quantum information and quantum thermodynamics, paving the way for more programmable, efficient, and scalable quantum technologies.
| Theme | Theme 3. Theoretical and experimental methods for quantum effects in energy processes |
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