ASCENT Theme 2 Liaison Meeting / Emulating Quantum Logic with Probabilistic Circuits

ASCENT Theme 2 Liaison Meeting 

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Webex

Title: Emulating quantum logic with probabilistic circuits

Presenters: Shuvro Chowdhury & Supriyo Datta (Purdue)

Abstract:
Digital computing is based on a deterministic bit with two values, 0 and 1. On the other hand, quantum computing is based on a q-bit which is a delicate superposition of 0 and 1. This talk draws attention to something in-between namely, a p-bit which is a robust classical entity fluctuating between 0 and 1.
 
Feynman [1] used the concept of a probabilistic computer as a counterpoint to the quantum computer, noting that “ .. the only difference between a probabilistic classical world and the equations of the quantum world is that .. the probabilities would have to go negative .. ” The awesome power of quantum computing comes from exploiting these negative (more generally complex) probabilities, which in turn requires stringent experimental conditions to protect the phase.
 
A probabilistic computer by contrast can be built with existing technology to operate at room temperature as we have demonstrated experimentally [2]. They lack the magic of complex probabilities but can function as hardware accelerators for many applications that use stochastic algorithms [3].
[1] R.P. Feynman, Int. J. Theor. Phys. 21, 467 (1982).
[2] W.A. Borders et al. Nature 573, 390 (2019).
[3] B.M. Sutton et al. IEEE Access 8, 157238 (2020)

This meeting is only available to the JUMP research community, such as Principal Investigators, Postdoc researchers, Students, and Industry/Government liaisons.