November 20, 2024 -- At the SuperComputing 2024 (SC24) conference in Atlanta (GA), from November 17–22, and the European Quantum Technologies Conference in Lisbon (Portugal), from November 18–20, the EuroQCS-France consortium announced plans to grant early remote access to a 6-qubit digital photonic quantum computer developed by Quandela. This initiative aims to support the European research community before the deployment of the Lucy system in France next year.

Preparing for Lucy’s Arrival in Mid-2025

GENCI and the CEA, the hosting and operational entities for the Lucy quantum computer within the EuroQCS-France consortium, are already equipping academic and industrial researchers with tools to familiarize themselves with linear optical quantum computing (LOQC). Quandela’s Perceval, a programming and emulation environment, has been available on GENCI’s Joliot-Curie supercomputer for over a year.

In the coming months, EuroQCS-France will provide remote access to a 6-qubit Quandela device. Users will write their code with Perceval and execute it remotely. This interim system will bridge the gap until Lucy, a 12-qubit universal digital photonic quantum supercomputer, is fully deployed and operational at the TGCC, the CEA’s computing center near Paris.

Lucy: A Key Element in EuroHPC’s Quantum Ecosystem

Lucy, acquired by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU), represents a collaboration between Quandela and German partner attocube systems AG. Set to launch in mid-2025 at the TGCC, Lucy will integrate with GENCI’s Joliot-Curie supercomputer, mirroring the setup of Pasqal’s “Ruby” system under the European HPCQS project.

Lucy is part of a unique constellation of six quantum computers across Europe, each leveraging different hardware technologies, including:

• Scalable superconducting qubits (Euro-Q-Exa, led by LRZ, Germany)
• Star-shaped superconducting qubits (LUMI-Q, IT4Innovation, Czech Republic)
• Trapped ions (EuroQCS-Poland, PSNC, Poland)
• Quantum annealing (EuroQCS-Spain, BSC-CNS, Spain)
• Neutral atoms (EuroQCS-Italy, CINECA, Italy)
• Single photons (EuroQCS-France, GENCI/CEA, France).

Four systems have been acquired to date from IQM (Euro-Q-Exa and LUMI-Q), AQT (EuroQCS-Poland), and Quandela and attocube systems AG (EuroQCS-France).

Quandela’s Support for Linear Optical Quantum Computing

As part of the initiative, Quandela will offer expert support to help users develop applications for Lucy. “Linear optical quantum computing is an exciting yet complex paradigm with vast potential applications. However, it also requires a steep learning curve. We are committed to providing users with the tools and support needed to succeed,” said Philippe Lavocat, CEO of GENCI, and Jacques-Charles Lafoucriere, CEA program director and coordinator of the French Hybrid Quantum HPC Initiative (HQI).

Quandela CEO Niccolo Somaschi added, “We’re excited to introduce Lucy into the EuroHPC quantum galaxy and, in the meantime, assist end-users in adopting the LOQC paradigm.”