What quantum computer to buy?
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Autore principale: | |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866911569627054080 |
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| author | Krasnok, Alex |
| author_facet | Krasnok, Alex |
| contents | The phrase ``buy a quantum computer'' hides several different procurement problems. An institution may be seeking cloud access for teaching, reserved capacity for research, a local instrument for hardware training, an optimization appliance, or a strategic installation that reshapes facilities, staffing, and budgets. Because these choices differ in purpose, operating burden, and useful lifetime, the decision should be framed as acquisition of \emph{quantum capability} rather than selection of a presumed hardware winner. This manuscript develops a practical procurement framework that distinguishes five capability layers, separates peer-reviewed results from commercial offerings, pricing anchors, and public roadmaps, and compares the main commercial platform families -- superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms, quantum annealing, and photonics -- through the lens of institutional fit, access model, and refresh pressure. The main conclusion is that most institutions should begin with the smallest layer of capability that produces repeatable near-term value, builds internal expertise, and preserves strategic flexibility. Large on-premises systems are justified only when mission requirements, site readiness, staffing, governance, and upgrade paths are already clear. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_04761 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | What quantum computer to buy? Krasnok, Alex Quantum Physics Applied Physics Optics The phrase ``buy a quantum computer'' hides several different procurement problems. An institution may be seeking cloud access for teaching, reserved capacity for research, a local instrument for hardware training, an optimization appliance, or a strategic installation that reshapes facilities, staffing, and budgets. Because these choices differ in purpose, operating burden, and useful lifetime, the decision should be framed as acquisition of \emph{quantum capability} rather than selection of a presumed hardware winner. This manuscript develops a practical procurement framework that distinguishes five capability layers, separates peer-reviewed results from commercial offerings, pricing anchors, and public roadmaps, and compares the main commercial platform families -- superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms, quantum annealing, and photonics -- through the lens of institutional fit, access model, and refresh pressure. The main conclusion is that most institutions should begin with the smallest layer of capability that produces repeatable near-term value, builds internal expertise, and preserves strategic flexibility. Large on-premises systems are justified only when mission requirements, site readiness, staffing, governance, and upgrade paths are already clear. |
| title | What quantum computer to buy? |
| topic | Quantum Physics Applied Physics Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.04761 |