Qoala: an Application Execution Environment for Quantum Internet Nodes

2025-02-24

AI Summary

This paper addresses the lack of a runtime environment supporting unified execution of hybrid classical-quantum programs on quantum internet nodes. To this end, we propose and implement Qoala, a lightweight application execution environment. Our key contributions are: (1) the first intermediate and runtime representation designed specifically for hybrid programs in quantum networks; (2) support for multitasking, asynchronous execution, and joint classical-quantum scheduling; and (3) a modular simulator built upon QNodeOS, validated end-to-end on real quantum network hardware. Experiments demonstrate that Qoala effectively enables latency- and scheduling-sensitive evaluation while maintaining high efficiency across diverse network conditions. The system is open-sourced, providing a scalable benchmark platform for quantum network compilation and scheduling algorithm research.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web

Abstract

Recently, a first-of-its-kind operating system for programmable quantum network nodes was developed, called QNodeOS. Here, we present an extension of QNodeOS called Qoala, which introduces (1) a unified program format for hybrid interactive classical-quantum programs, providing a well-defined target for compilers, and (2) a runtime representation of a program that allows joint scheduling of the hybrid classical-quantum program, multitasking, and asynchronous program execution. Based on concrete design considerations, we put forward the architecture of Qoala, including the program structure and execution mechanism. We implement Qoala in the form of a modular and extendible simulator that is validated against real-world quantum network hardware (available online). However, Qoala is not meant to be purely a simulator, and implementation is planned on real hardware. We evaluate Qoala's effectiveness and performance sensitivity to latencies and network schedules using an extensive simulation study. Qoala provides a framework that opens the door for future computer science research into quantum network applications, including scheduling algorithms and compilation strategies that can now readily be explored using the framework and tools provided.

Problem

• Develops Qoala for quantum internet nodes
• Introduces hybrid classical-quantum program format
• Enables joint scheduling and asynchronous execution

Innovation

• Unified program format
• Joint scheduling mechanism
• Modular extendible simulator