The Topological Quantum Architecture Design (TopQAD) Software Suite
Automated design and benchmarking for fault-tolerant quantum computers
Quantum architecture dictates how a quantum circuit will be physically implemented. Its design therefore significantly impacts the requirements for running a given quantum computation. Consequently, accurate assessment of the requirements for potential utility-scale quantum computers and their fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC) components (quantum processing units, controllers, decoders, etc.) necessitates the consideration of quantum architecture. Such assessments can furthermore be used to study design trade-offs throughout the quantum computing stack and thus guide design choices towards utility scale. 1QBit’s Topological Quantum Architecture Design (TopQAD) software suite is a set of tools that automates quantum architecture design and enables you to study the impact of quantum algorithm and FTQC component design choices on resource requirements. It can be used to support scientific research, product development, and quantum computing policy and investment strategy.
TopQAD has three tools—the Compiler, Noise Profiler, and Assembler—that can be accessed via its services—the Noise Profiler, Compiler, and Quantum Resource Estimation (QRE) service. The following table summarizes these services at a high level, using key quantum architecture terminology, which is described in the Quantum Architecture Basics section.
| Service | Purpose | Connection to Quantum Architecture | Service Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compiler | Design aid for quantum algorithms | Compiles an input quantum algorithm down to machine-level instructions scheduled on a defined logical microarchitecture of the core processor | Compiler |
| Noise Profiler | Design aid for quantum processing units, controllers, and decoders | Determines the logical performance of fault-tolerant algorithms given hardware specifications, which is critical for optimizing a physical microarchitecture | Noise Profiler |
| Quantum Resource Estimation | Design aid for quantum processing units, controllers, decoders, and quantum algorithms Evaluate costs of a quantum computer (monetary, runtime, and quantum resource) | Automates the optimization of logical and physical microarchitectures to run an input quantum algorithm within a target error budget Provides estimates of resource and cost requirements, given a designed quantum architecture | Compiler, Noise Profiler, Assembler |
About
Access
Reach out to 1QBit if you are interested in licensing TopQAD or partnering with 1QBit.
Papers
The following is a list of select, TopQAD-facilitated papers:
Silva, A., Zhang, X., Webb, Z., Kramer, M., Yang, C.-W., Liu, X., Lemieux, J., Chen, K.-W., Scherer, A., and Ronagh, P., 2024. Multi-qubit Lattice Surgery Scheduling, in 19th Conference on the Theory of Quantum Computation, Communication and Cryptography (TQC 2024), Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 310, pp. 1:1–1:22, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informati. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.TQC.2024.1
Silva, A., Scherer, A., Webb, Z., Khalid, A., Kulchytskyy, B., Kramer, M., Nguyen, K., Kong, X., Dagnew, G.A., Wang, Y. and Nguyen, H.A., 2024. Optimizing Multi-level Magic State Factories for Fault-Tolerant Quantum Architectures. arXiv preprint arXiv:2411.04270.
Mohseni, M., Scherer, A., Johnson, K.G., Wertheim, O., Otten, M., Aadit, N.A., Bresniker, K.M., Camsari, K.Y., Chapman, B., Chatterjee, S. and Dagnew, G.A., 2024. How to Build a Quantum Supercomputer: Scaling Challenges and Opportunities. arXiv preprint arXiv:2411.10406.
TopQAD Citation
1QB Information Technologies (1QBit), TopQAD: Topological Quantum Architecture Design Software Suite [Software Documentation] (2025), https://doi.org/10.70781/YPWW8761
Acknowledgements
Supported in part by advisory services and research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
Version
This documentation pertains to the TopQAD Portal Version 0.2.0.