Quantum-HPC Software Stacks and the openQSE Reference Architecture: A Survey
Amir Shehata, Brian Austin, Tom Beck, Lukas Burgholzer, Alex Chernoguzov, Spencer Churchill, Andrea Delgado, Yasuko Eckert, Jeffery Heckey, Kevin Kissell, Katherine Klymko, Josh Moles, Thomas Naughton, Lee James O'Riordan, Christian Ortiz Pauyac, Guen Prawiroatmodjo, Ermal Rrapaj, Jiri Schindler, Laura Schulz, Sebastian Stern, Tyler Takeshita, Miwako Tsuji, Aleksander Wennersteen, Travis Humble, Martin Schulz
quant-phcs.DCcs.ETcs.SESubmitted Apr 22, 2026• Announced Apr 23, 2026• 0 citations
Quantum resources are increasingly integrated into high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud environments, but quantum high-performance computing (QHPC) software stacks remain isolated, often proprietary, full-stack solutions lacking common interfaces across runtime, resource management, orchestration, and execution layers. This paper analyzes nine production QHPC stacks and identifies common design patterns and emerging requirements, covering deployment models, application interaction patterns, SDK support, and readiness for fault-tolerant operation. The survey exposes consistent needs in runtime abstraction, resource management, interconnect semantics, and observability. Based on these findings, we propose the open quantum-HPC software ecosystem ( openQSE) reference architecture as a first step toward unifying the state-of-the-practice. openQSE defines a set of layer boundaries that allow different implementations to interoperate while preserving deployment flexibility, and is structured to support both current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) workloads and future fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) systems without changes to upper-layer application interfaces.
Quantum resources are increasingly integrated into high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud environments, but quantum high-performance computing (QHPC) software stacks remain isolated, often proprietary, full-stack solutions lacking common interfaces across runtime, resource management, orchestration, and execution layers. This paper analyzes nine production QHPC stacks and identifies common design patterns and emerging requirements, covering deployment models, application interaction patterns, SDK support, and readiness for fault-tolerant operation. The survey exposes consistent needs in runtime abstraction, resource management, interconnect semantics, and observability. Based on these findings, we propose the open quantum-HPC software ecosystem ( openQSE) reference architecture as a first step toward unifying the state-of-the-practice. openQSE defines a set of layer boundaries that allow different implementations to interoperate while preserving deployment flexibility, and is structured to support both current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) workloads and future fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) systems without changes to upper-layer application interfaces.
High-performance computing (HPC) has evolved over decades through multiple architectural transitions, from vector supercomputers to massively parallel CPU clusters and GPU-accelerated systems, continuously expanding the frontier of scientific discovery. With the emergence of quantum processing units (QPUs) as practical computational accelerators, a new opportunity arises to further extend this trajectory by integrating quantum and classical computing paradigms. Building on the emerging vision of Quantum Integrated High-Performance Computing (QHPC), this paper contributes a full-stack layered architecture that integrates QPUs as first-class accelerators within, not merely alongside, the classical HPC software and hardware stack, with tight, on-premise quantum–classical coupling as its defining characteristic. The architecture comprises of unified resource management, quantum-aware scheduling, hybrid workflow orchestration, middleware and programming abstraction, interconnect technologies, and a tiered execution model enabling seamless workload partitioning across classical and quantum backends. A central aspect of this architecture is a strong user requests abstraction layer that exposes heterogeneous resources through a unified job submission interface, similar in spirit to existing schedulers such as Slurm, allowing users to describe workloads in a consistent template independent of underlying compute type or location. Drawing insights from prior accelerator integration eras, we outline how QHPC can support emerging workloads in quantum chemistry, materials discovery, combinatorial optimization, and climate modeling. We conclude by highlighting open challenges in building scalable, reliable, and programmable quantum–classical infrastructures that seamlessly connect global users to heterogeneous compute resources for future quantum–classical HPC ecosystems.
High-performance computing (HPC) has evolved over decades through multiple architectural transitions, from vector supercomputers to massively parallel CPU clusters and GPU-accelerated systems, continuously expanding the frontier of scientific discovery. With the emergence of quantum processing units (QPUs) as practical computational accelerators, a new opportunity arises to further extend this trajectory by integrating quantum and classical computing paradigms. Building on the emerging vision of Quantum Integrated High-Performance Computing (QHPC), this paper contributes a full-stack layered architecture that integrates QPUs as first-class accelerators within, not merely alongside, the classical HPC software and hardware stack, with tight, on-premise quantum-classical coupling as its defining characteristic. The architecture comprises of unified resource management, quantum-aware scheduling, hybrid workflow orchestration, middleware and programming abstraction, interconnect technologies, and a tiered execution model enabling seamless workload partitioning across classical and quantum backends. A central aspect of this architecture is a strong user requests abstraction layer that exposes heterogeneous resources through a unified job submission interface, similar in spirit to existing schedulers such as Slurm, allowing users to describe workloads in a consistent template independent of underlying compute type or location. Drawing insights from prior accelerator integration eras, we outline how QHPC can support emerging workloads in quantum chemistry, materials discovery, combinatorial optimization, and climate modeling. We conclude by highlighting open challenges in building scalable, reliable, and programmable quantum-classical infrastructures that seamlessly connect global users to heterogeneous compute resources for future quantum-classical HPC ecosystems.
Hybrid quantum-high performance computing (Q-HPC) workflows are emerging as a key strategy for running quantum applications at scale in current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. These workflows must operate seamlessly across diverse simulators and hardware backends since no single simulator offers the best performance for every circuit type. Simulation efficiency depends strongly on circuit structure, entanglement, and depth, making a flexible and backend-agnostic execution model essential for fair benchmarking, informed platform selection, and ultimately the identification of quantum advantage opportunities. In this work, we extend the Quantum Framework (QFw), a modular and HPC-aware orchestration layer, to integrate multiple local backends (Qiskit Aer, NWQ-Sim, QTensor, and TN-QVM) and a cloud-based quantum backend (IonQ) under a unified interface. Using this integration, we execute a number of non-variational as well as variational workloads. The results highlight workload-specific backend advantages: while Qiskit Aer’s matrix product state excels for large Ising models, NWQ-Sim not only leads on large-scale entanglement and Hamiltonian but also shows the benefits of concurrent subproblem execution in a distributed manner for optimization problems. These findings demonstrate that simulator-agnostic, HPC-aware orchestration is a practical path toward scalable, reproducible, and portable Q-HPC ecosystems, thereby accelerating progress toward demonstrating quantum advantage.
Quantum computers are making their way into High Performance Computing (HPC) centers as next-generation accelerators. Due to their physical implementation as mostly large appliances in separate racks, their number in typical data centers is significantly lower than the number of nodes offloading work to them, unlike the case with GPU accelerators. As a consequence, they form large-scale disaggregated infrastructures that pose a number of integration challenges due to their diverse implementation technologies and their need to be used as a shared resource for optimal utilization. Running hybrid High Performance Computing-Quantum Computing (HPCQC) applications in HPC environments, where the quantum portion is offloaded to the quantum processing units (QPUs), requires sophisticated resource management strategies to optimize resource utilization and performance. In this paper, we present one aspect of the Munich Quantum Software Stack (MQSS) - a Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation and execution software stack for quantum and hybrid quantum-HPC workloads - beneficial for integrating disaggregated quantum accelerators into traditional HPC workflows. MQSS is centered around a series of novel contributions aimed at optimizing the compilation process while managing the disaggregated resources ensuring efficient utilization of all available quantum resources. The key stages of our JIT compilation stack involve hardware-agnostic optimizations, quantum circuit cutting – when necessary – and a novel hardware platform selection process. Included here is description of the use of the MQSS’s Quantum Device Management Interface (QDMI), a unified interface between the software stack and the quantum accelerators, which allows connection to several, potentially different, quantum resources. Our methodology demonstrates notable advancements in HPCQC integration workflows, offering researchers a powerful framework for leveraging quantum computational capabilities. Overall, our work represents a significant step towards the practical integration of disaggregated quantum devices within the realm of supercomputing, unlocking new avenues for computational exploration and discovery.
Quantum computing is entering an era where quantum processing units (QPUs) with tens to hundreds of qubits are increasingly integrated with high-performance computing (HPC) systems to support hybrid quantum-classical workloads. This paradigm, often referred to as Quantum-Centric SuperComputing (QCSC), introduces new operational, software, and infrastructure challenges. In this paper, we identify and characterize six distinct personas involved in QCSC environments. Particular attention is given to emerging roles that arise at the interface between quantum and HPC systems. We analyze the responsibilities and tools associated with each persona and examine their differing requirements for operational data. Consistent data representations and analytics frameworks will be required to support diverse users across the quantum-HPC ecosystem. By defining personas and their data needs, we provide a foundation for future discussions in this critical area.
The connection and eventual integration of High-Performance Computing (HPC) with Quantum Computing (QC) represents a transformative advancement in computational technology, promising significant enhancements in solving complex, previously intractable problems. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of HPC-QC interfacing, detailing architectural methodologies, software stack developments, middleware functionalities, and hardware integration strategies. It critically assesses existing hardware-level integration models, ranging from standalone and loosely-coupled architectures to tightly-integrated and on-node systems. The software ecosystem is analyzed, highlighting prominent frameworks such as Qiskit, PennyLane, CUDA-Q, and middleware solutions like Pilot-Quantum, essential for seamless hybrid computing environments. Furthermore, the manuscript discusses practical applications in optimization, machine learning, and many-body dynamics, where hybrid HPC-QC systems can offer substantial advantages. It also describes existing challenges, including hardware limitations (coherence, scalability, connectivity), software maturity, communication overhead, resource management complexities, and cost factors. Finally, future directions towards tighter hardware and software integration are discussed, emphasizing ongoing research developments and emerging trends that promise to expand the capabilities and accessibility of hybrid HPC-QC systems.