Marcin Dukalski, Lead of Quantum Computing Research at Aramco Research Centre

Marcin Dukalski, Lead of Quantum Computing Research at Aramco Research Centre is interviewed by Yuval Boger.

Read the full transcript or listen to the episode here.

Here are the key points:

Background and Journey to Quantum Computing: Marcin leads a team focused on advanced computing for Aramco's upstream business. His history with quantum computing spans over 15 years, starting with theoretical physics and transitioning to applied quantum computing. Over time, Marcin has worked on quantum hardware modeling, NV centers, transmon qubits, and practical quantum measurements.

Applications in Subsurface Imaging: Marcin explains that subsurface imaging, akin to an "ultrasound for the Earth", is computationally challenging and a large optimization problem suitable for quantum computing. The challenge lies in managing large data volumes and adapting the problems to current quantum computing capabilities.

Challenges in Quantum Computing for Imaging: Marcin describes the difficulties in subsurface imaging, which requires processing petabytes of data collected over months. The energy sector is one of the top global consumers of high-performance computing, and there are ongoing efforts to use quantum computing to identify subsurface anomalies efficiently.

Quantum Applications in the Energy Industry: Marcin mentions other use cases explored at Aramco, such as understanding chemicals and addressing load-balancing problems in renewable energy systems. He emphasizes that identifying truly impactful applications is challenging.

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Approach: Marcin believes that a hybrid approach, combining classical and quantum computing, is pragmatic and likely to continue as quantum computers evolve and tackle larger problems.

Energy Consumption and Quantum Computing: Marcin notes that while quantum computers may consume less energy than classical supercomputers, they are not a direct replacement. Quantum computers may help manage computation more efficiently, potentially reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Quantum Computing's Current Relevance: Marcin mentions that quantum computers have started producing useful results for the energy industry, such as in subsurface imaging. He believes the demand for knowledge about quantum computing is growing within the industry.

External Collaboration and Support: Marcin emphasizes the need for close collaboration with service providers and academia. He suggests that service providers should offer tools for solving broad classes of problems, while academia can continue to explore and develop quantum capabilities.

Historical Perspective on Quantum Computing: Marcin expresses interest in the work of Susanna Glickman, who wrote a PhD thesis on the history of quantum computing, highlighting the evolution of the field from a speculative technology to a multi-billion dollar industry.

Read the full transcript or listen to the episode here.

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