by Amara Graps
To what extent does an aircraft company prioritize innovation? For Rolls-Royce Holdings, innovation is not just a priority, it is ingrained in their DNA. From overcoming financial hurdles fifty years ago with the RB211-22 jet engine project to today, where the company houses a team of quantum experts, innovation has been instrumental in Rolls-Royce’s success.
“One of the customers I really appreciate is Rolls-Royce. The Rolls-Royce team is built of quantum experts. They are dealing with a very interesting problem, which is CFD. It’s really a problem that pushes the boundaries of classical computing to the limit.” —-Nir Minerbi (Classiq), QCR transcript on Superposition Guy’s Podcast
A QCFD Use Case with the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) Algorithm
At Rolls-Royce, the drive for innovation is matched only by their courage to tackle groundbreaking algorithms like the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd algorithm, traditionally reserved for fault-tolerant quantum computers.
The Lapworth, 2022 research unveiled a non-linear, hybrid quantum-classical CFD solver that delivered fully converged solutions, leveraging both the SIMPLE CFD algorithm and the HHL algorithm. The study delved into the solution accuracy achievable with HHL, estimating the logical qubits required for various CFD meshes. This research represents a significant leap in CFD capabilities and sets the stage for future advancements in the field.
Collaborations for QCFD Support
- In a groundbreaking collaboration in October 2022, Rolls-Royce and Classiq announced a project to implement a hybrid classical/quantum CFD solution using the quantum HHL method.
- In January 2023, Xanadu and Rolls-Royce embarked on enhancing Xanadu’s Pennylane software with a new quantum algorithm, the Quantum Singular Value Transformation (QSVT), designed to solve linearized equations.
- In a monumental announcement in May 2023, NVIDIA, Rolls-Royce, and Classiq unveiled plans to enhance jet engine efficiency by simulating the world’s largest quantum computing circuit for CFD, using NVIDIA’s cutting-edge GPU technology.
- In December 2023, Riverlane, Rolls-Royce, and the National Quantum Computing Centre joined forces to explore accelerating materials design through quantum computing, a project that holds great promise for the future of the industry.
- In March 2024, Rolls-Royce, Riverlane, and Xanadu collaborated on a UK and Canadian grants project aimed at developing quantum computing applications for modeling airflow in jet engines.
A QCFD Use Case with the Finite Method based on Quantum Linear Solver Algorithm (QLSA)
Jet engine simulations using quantum computers have seen significant advancements, with BosonQ Psi’s BQPhy® platform demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale fluid dynamic simulations with just 30 logical qubits, a stark reduction from the current requirement of millions of HPC cores. Bosco et al., 2024, showcased their Hybrid Quantum-Classical Finite Method, paving the way for accurate solutions in complex fluid dynamics scenarios.
As we continue to push the boundaries of quantum computing in CFD, novel approaches like the Finite Method based on the Quantum Linear Solver Algorithm (QLSA) are paving the way for more efficient and accurate solutions in the field. Exciting developments lie ahead for the integration of quantum computing in CFD applications.
If you are interested in learning more about quantum algorithms and their applications, do not hesitate to reach out to info@global-qi.com.
October 10, 2024