Quantum Optical Reservoir Computing Powered by Boson Sampling

Paper Information

Title: Quantum optical reservoir computing powered by boson sampling

Authors: Akitada Sakurai, Aoi Hayashi, William John Munro, and Kae Nemoto

Published: Optica Quantum 3, 238-245 (2025)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICAQ.541432

Reproduction Status: 🚧In Progress

Reproducer: Jean Senellart (jean.senellart@quandela.com)

Abstract

The authors demonstrate that the random interferometer used in boson sampling can generate complex dynamics suitable for quantum reservoir computing, providing a practical application for this previously limited quantum computation model. They successfully apply this approach to image recognition tasks, showing its utility even with small-scale quantum systems.

Significance

This work represents a breakthrough in finding practical applications for boson sampling beyond computational supremacy demonstrations. By repurposing the random interferometer structure for reservoir computing, the authors provide a pathway for near-term quantum advantage in machine learning tasks.

MerLin Implementation

The MerLin reproduction implements the quantum reservoir computing framework using the library’s photonic simulation capabilities. The implementation leverages MerLin’s boson sampling modules and reservoir computing extensions.

Key Contributions Reproduced

Boson Sampling Reservoir

Implementation of random interferometer as quantum reservoir
Characterization of computational expressivity

Image Recognition Tasks

MNIST digit classification experiments
Comparison with classical reservoir computing methods

Scalability Analysis

In progress: exploring performance with increasing reservoir size

Interactive Exploration

Jupyter Notebook: Hybrid Quantum-Classical Model Exploration

The notebook provides:

First implementation of the quantum reservoir computing model

Citation

@article{sakurai2025quantum,
  title={Quantum optical reservoir computing powered by boson sampling},
  author={Sakurai, Akitada and Hayashi, Aoi and Munro, William John and Nemoto, Kae},
  journal={Optica Quantum},
  volume={3},
  pages={238--245},
  year={2025},
  publisher={Optica Publishing Group},
  doi={10.1364/OPTICAQ.541432}
}