Nonlocality as a benchmarking tool for quantum processors

Abstract Benchmarking quantum processors is a central task in every roadmap aimed at quantum advantage. Here, we discuss a benchmarking protocol based on the violation of the Svetlichny inequality, which is designed to simulate genuine multipartite nonlocality. We compare it with Mermin’s inequality, and present the results of applying this framework to two different quantum processing units—the superconducting system Garnet (from IQM) and the ion-trap system Marmot (from AQT), testing different families of quantum circuits for three to five qubits under identical experimental conditions. We also run simultaneous triplet tests across the full register, including a comparison between GHZ and linear cluster states, to probe how Svetlichny-inequality violations depend on qubit location and calibration. Our results demonstrate that tests based on genuine multipartite nonlocality provide a powerful tool to characterize the collective performance of quantum devices and to guide their calibration and optimization.