Junyi Liu, University of Maryland

Abstract

Quantum computing imposes stringent requirements for the precise control of large-scale qubit systems, including, for example, microsecond-latency feedback and nanosecond-precision timing of gigahertz signals—demands that far exceed the capabilities of conventional real-time systems. The rapidly evolving and highly diverse nature of quantum control necessitates the development of specialized hardware accelerators. While a few custom real-time systems have been developed to meet the tight timing constraints of specific quantum platforms, they face major challenges in scaling and adapting to increasingly complex control demands—largely due to fragmented toolchains and limited support for design automation.

To address these limitations, we present RISC-Q—an open-source flexible generator for Quantum Control System-on-Chip (QCSoC) designs, featuring a programming interface compatible with the RISC-V ecosystem. Developed using SpinalHDL, RISC-Q enables efficient automation of highly parameterized and modular QCSoC architectures, supporting agile and iterative development to meet the evolving demands of quantum control. We demonstrate that RISC-Q can replicate the performance of existing QCSoCs with significantly reduced development effort, facilitating efficient exploration of the hardware–software co-design space for rapid prototyping and customization.

Speaker bio: Junyi Liu is a postdoctoral scholar at the QuICS, University of Maryland, advised by Xiaodi Wu. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from the Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, under the supervision of Prof. Mingsheng Ying. His expertise lies in the analysis and verification of quantum software. His current focus is on designing software and hardware infrastructure to enhance the performance and accessibility of quantum devices.