A Physical Model of Quantum Bit Behavior Based on a Programmable FPGA Integrated Circuit

The rapidly developing field of quantum computing and the ongoing lack of widely available quantum computers create the need for scientists to build their simulators. However, mathematical simulation of such circuits usually ignores many aspects and problems found in real quantum systems. In this article, the authors describe a quantum bit emulator based on FPGA integrated circuits. In this case, FPGA technology provides real-time massive parallelism of the modeled physical phenomena. The modeled QUBIT is represented using a Bloch sphere. Its quantum state is set and modified only by precise pulses of an electrical signal, and with the help of similar pulses, it manifests its current state in real time. The constructed QUBIT was additionally equipped with decoherence mechanisms and with circuits that intentionally respond to internal and external noises that distort its current quantum state. This article presents and discusses how such a physically built emulator works.