Xanadu and AMD Accelerate Quantum Computing for Aerospace and Engineering

Insider Brief

• Xanadu Quantum Technologies and AMD demonstrated hybrid quantum-classical aerospace simulations using Xanadu’s PennyLane quantum software running on AMD high-performance computing infrastructure.
• The demonstration compiled and executed a computational fluid dynamics model with a 256×256 matrix using 20 qubits and approximately 35 million quantum gates in a hybrid simulation environment.
• Researchers also accelerated the Quantum Singular Value Transformation algorithm by running simulations on an AMD GPU, reducing simulation time by 25× and compiling a 68-qubit circuit into more than 15 million optimized gates using PennyLane’s Catalyst compiler.

PRESS RELEASE — Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. (“Xanadu”), a leading photonic quantum computing company, today announced a major step forward in bringing quantum computing closer to real-world aerospace and engineering applications by leveraging AMD HPC and AI technologies. By combining Xanadu’s PennyLane quantum software with AMD high-performance computing solutions on the AMD DevCloud, Xanadu successfully demonstrated how advanced aerospace simulations can be prepared and run in a hybrid quantum-classical environment.

Aerospace engineers rely on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to optimize design and enhance aircraft efficiency. Xanadu, powered by the AMD DevCloud, has successfully demonstrated CFD simulations within a hybrid quantum-classical program, showcasing the significant potential of quantum computing for the industry. The work centered on the compilation and execution of a CFD model with 256×256 matrix elements. This hybrid program utilized 20 qubits and approximately 35 million quantum gates, pushing the boundaries of current CFD quantum simulations. As the industry advances toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, the ability to compile and optimize programs of this scale will become a critical competitive advantage. This milestone demonstrates that Xanadu and AMD can support next-generation quantum-classical applications by combining their respective technologies and expertise, helping transition quantum computing from research environments toward industrial use in aerospace and engineering.

“Seeing AMD high-performance compute boost the performance of PennyLane is a clear proof point of how quantum and classical technologies can effectively work together,” said Madhu Rangarajan, Corporate Vice President, Compute and Enterprise AI, AMD. “This work further underscores the importance of seamless integration between classical and quantum computing. The work between AMD and Xanadu expands the boundaries of what is possible for users investigating hybrid quantum/classical computing using AMD compute today.”

“Accelerating quantum applications for the aerospace industry requires close collaboration between quantum software and high-performance computing,” said Christian Weedbrook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xanadu. “Our partnership with AMD brings these capabilities together to address real engineering challenges today. By optimizing how large-scale quantum programs are compiled and simulated, we are helping ensure the aerospace industry is ready to adopt fault-tolerant quantum computing as soon as it becomes available.”

The collaboration has also improved the performance of a core quantum algorithm, the Quantum Singular Value Transformation (QSVT), which is a key driver for a variety of applications, including those relevant to aerospace engineering. Xanadu found that by moving from a traditional CPU to a single AMD GPU, the team reduced simulation time by 25 times, demonstrating the immediate value of high-performance computing in accelerating quantum workflows. Using PennyLane’s Catalyst compiler, they also translated a 68-qubit quantum circuit into more than 15 million hardware-optimized gates, preparing it for future fault-tolerant quantum systems.

As aerospace organizations look to turn quantum research into practical advantage, scalable software and powerful computing infrastructure will be essential. Through their partnership, Xanadu and AMD are bringing quantum and classical technologies together in a way that helps industry prepare today for the next generation of quantum computers.