The Aqarios Luna Platform, our cloud-based solution for solving complex optimization problems using quantum computing, now enables users to access IBM’s Quantum hardware through their existing IBM accounts. Luna connects seamlessly to IBM’s cloud services using your own IBM Quantum token (bring-your-own-token), making it easy to solve problems on real hardware using Luna’s hybrid algorithms.

This update enables Luna users to run circuits on IBM’s quantum processor units (QPUs), including the established IBM Quantum Heron and the newer IBM Quantum Nighthawk processors, empowering Luna users to test their workflows on utility-scale quantum devices without changing their familiar Python interface.

Why this matters for Luna users

Luna’s new access to IBM Quantum hardware puts the focus on your workflow: prototype on fast simulators, then execute on real hardware to validate performance under realistic noise conditions. Whether you’re using QAOA, VQE, or our proprietary FlexQAOA algorithm, switching to IBM hardware requires just a backend swap. To access IBM quantum hardware in Luna, users can target the specific backend (e.g. ibm_miami for IBM Nighthawk).

Key benefits include:

• Unified API: Same code for simulators and QPUs.
• Hybrid Optimization: Parameter tuning on GPU simulators, final evaluation on IBM hardware.
• Flexible Sessions: Balance speed vs. cost with session-based execution.

This keeps Luna as your central hub for quantum optimization while leveraging IBM’s hardware advancements.

Hardware access via LunaSolve

With LunaSolve, our core service for optimization, you initialize the IBM Quantum backend using your IBM Quantum Platform credentials. Luna handles the connection to IBM’s cloud services.

Session Options:

• use_session=True: Drastically reduces runtime by eliminating queuing times between iterative steps. Ideally suited for hybrid algorithms like QAOA where latency matters. Note: The entire session duration is billed, which may incur higher costs.
• use_session=False: Jobs are re-queued individually. This is more cost-effective as you are billed only for QPU execution time, though the overall wall-clock time will be significantly longer.

Backend Flexibility:

• Specify backend_name="ibm_miami" for Nighthawk.
• Set backend_name=None to auto-select the least busy suitable device.

Note: Access levels depend on your IBM Quantum Platform account (free or paid tiers). IBM offers various product plans detailed here.

FlexQAOA on Real Hardware

A major highlight of this release is the availability of FlexQAOA on IBM hardware. Previously only available on simulators, Aqarios’ proprietary constraint-aware algorithm can now be executed on real QPUs. This allows users to test how efficiently FlexQAOA’s specialized mixers handle constraints under real-world conditions.

Standard solvers, such as QAOA and VQE , are also fully supported. The API remains consistent with our simulation tools; you only need to swap the backend.

Example Workflow: From Simulation To Execution

A powerful workflow enabled by Luna is the “Simulate-then-Execute” pattern. You can optimize your algorithm’s parameters on a fast simulator (like AqariosGpu) and then transfer those optimized parameters to the real IBM hardware for a final evaluation. This minimizes expensive QPU usage during the training phase.

Simulators for Testing

Before consuming QPU time, you can also validate your code using the simulation tools provided by Qiskit through Luna:

• FakeBackend(backend_name="fake_nighthawk"): Emulates the noise and topology of the specific device.
• IBMSimulator(): Provides an ideal state vector simulation using the Qiskit-Aer simulation suite.

Sign up for Luna for Free

The Luna Platform offers a free access tier, allowing you to explore these tools immediately. While the flagship ibm_miami device generally requires a paid IBM Quantum instance, other devices like the latest IBM Heron QPUs are available for use under an IBM Quantum open plan.

Sign up for Luna’s free tier to explore simulators and tools today. Create an account here.

Descriptions of IBM access and capabilities are subject to change. For current details about IBM’s various access plans, visit here.

About Aqarios

Aqarios, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is a leading provider of quantum computing solutions across industries such as energy, aerospace, logistics, finance, manufacturing and many more. The company delivers advanced quantum software that focuses on optimization, machine learning, and simulation, offering practical tools that address critical business challenges. Aqarios has collaborated with globally recognized organizations to deliver tailored quantum solutions that drive efficiency and innovation.

Founded in 2021 by three professors and seasoned business professionals, Aqarios is a spin-off from the QAR-Lab at LMU Munich, a globally renowned hub for quantum computing research that ranks among the world’s top quantum computing institutes. With nearly a decade of experience in quantum applications, Aqarios is at the forefront of quantum innovation, leveraging its deep expertise to bridge the gap between theoretical quantum research and real-world applications.