Formal Verification vs. Quantum Uncertainty

Abstract

14 Programming a quantum computer is difficult and writing a program that will execute successfully 15 on quantum devices that exist today (or are likely to exist in the near future) is a daunting task. Not 16 only is quantum computing inherently uncertain, the quantum computers that we have introduce 17 a variety of novel errors that are difficult to predict or work around. Techniques from formal 18 verification will allow us to quantify and mitigate these errors if we can bridge the gap between 19 high level languages and machine specifications. In this paper, we review existing approaches to 20 quantum program verification and propose a new approach focused not only on long term quantum 21 programming, but on the quantum programs we can run today. 22 2012 ACM Subject Classification Software and its engineering → Formal software verification; 23 Hardware → Quantum error correction and fault tolerance 24