This project focuses on a quantum optimization problem. A computer game is developed in which the user optimizes the control of a two-qubit quantum gate in a double quantum dot system, where the electron spins represent the qubits. The goal of the game is to adjust the profile of the control pulses that affect the tunneling of electrons to implement the most accurate quantum gate possible. This approach may potentially contribute to the future design of control signals for quantum computers. Notably, the game does not require a background in quantum physics, allowing laypeople to engage with it while intuitively solving a complex quantum mechanical optimization problem in the background.
This repository contains the implementation developed for my MSc thesis 'Human Resources for Quantum Optimization'.
Optimization problems in quantum physics present significant challenges. Traditionally, computers and established numerical methods are used to address these challenges. An important question is whether humans can outperform computers in solving these tasks. Recent research has addressed this question using the approach of citizen science, in which laypeople solved quantum-mechanical optimization tasks by playing specially designed computer games[1]. In this project, a similar computer game is demonstrated to optimize the control variable of a two-qubit quantum gate, which could serve as a building block for a future quantum computer. In particular, the game's physical setup is a double quantum dot, where each dot hosts a single electron, and the electrons' spins represent the two qubits. The two-qubit operation is carried out by temporarily switching on the tunneling amplitude between the two dots. The goal of the player is to perform a precise quantum gate by specifying the shape of the tunnel pulse that controls it. The player receives a score based on how precise the created quantum gate was and has a chance to improve it by trying again, hopefully resulting in a tunnel pulse that provides an optimized quantum gate. The presented computer game has the potential to serve as a practical tool for designing on-chip voltage pulse shapes in actual quantum computer prototypes, once the user interface is further developed to allow real-time control and visual feedback.
[1] Jens Jakob W. H. Sørensen et al., "Exploring the Quantum Speed Limit with Computer Games," Nature 532, no. 7598 (April 2016): 210–213, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.12268
Standalone interactive game enabling users to design and optimize tunnel pulse shapes for high-fidelity two-qubit gates in a double quantum dot system.
- QGAME_v1.cdf - a simple two-parameter trapezoid tunnel pulse
- QGAME_v2.cdf - multi-parameter Fourier-series tunnel pulse
quantum-gate-optimization/
│
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
│
├── notebooks/ # Mathematica notebooks
│ ├── model.nb # Physical system (Hamiltonian, dynamics)
│ ├── control.nb # Pulse shaping & optimization
│ ├── game_logic.nb # Game mechanics & scoring
│ └── analysis.nb # Results, evaluation
│
├── game/ # Standalone playable version
│ ├── QGAME_v1.cdf # Main stand-alone game ver. 1
│ └── QGAME_v2.cdf # Main stand-alone game ver. 2
│
├── figures/ # Exported plots, game interface
│
└── docs/ # Documentation
├── AUTHORS.md # Authors and their contributions
├── thesis-extract.pdf
└── thesis.pdf
- Wolfram Mathematica or CDF reader
This repository is licensed under the MIT License.
The associated thesis and documentation are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
© 2026 Áron Rozgonyi