Intel Quantum SDK: A Platform for Efficient Execution of Variational Algorithms

<!--HTML-->Variational algorithms are among the most promising near-term applications of quantum computers. Their execution is particularly challenging for current quantum computing systems since they require a tight interaction between the host CPU and the quantum accelerator. Here we present Intel Quantum SDK, an LLVM-based C++ compiler toolchain to efficiently compile and execute variational algorithms. Using our extension to the C++ language, the user can write programs describing both the quantum and classical parts of the algorithm. The classical and quantum parts of the C++ source are then compiled by the LLVM framework and by a novel quantum device compiler component, respectively. The runtime is augmented with the capability of executing quantum circuits dynamically, meaning that the values of the circuit's parameters can be changed without triggering the recompilation of the quantum part. We briefly describe how to gain access to the Intel Quantum SDK and get started with hybrid quantum-classical workloads.