Architecture of a Quantum Multicomputer Optimized for Shor's Factoring Algorithm

Abstract

The quantum multicomputer consists of a large number of small nodes and a qubus interconnect for creating entangled state between the nodes. The primary metric chosen is the performance of such a system on Shor's algorithm for factoring large numbers: specifically, the quantum modular exponentiation step that is the computational bottleneck. This dissertation introduces a number of optimizations for the modular exponentiation. My algorithms reduce the latency, or circuit depth, to complete the modular exponentiation of an n-bit number from O(n^3) to O(n log^2 n) or O(n^2 log n), depending on architecture. Calculations show that these algorithms are one million times and thirteen thousand times faster, when factoring a 6,000-bit number, depending on architecture. Extending to the quantum multicomputer, five different qubus interconnect topologies are considered, and two forms of carry-ripple adder are found to be the fastest for a wide range of performance parameters. The links in the quantum multicomputer are serial; parallel links would provide only very modest improvements in system reliability and performance. Two levels of the Steane [[23,1,7]] error correction code will adequately protect our data for factoring a 1,024-bit number even when the qubit teleportation failure rate is one percent.