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Proposal: Quantum Computer Canary #53

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p51lee opened this issue May 28, 2024 · 3 comments
Open

Proposal: Quantum Computer Canary #53

p51lee opened this issue May 28, 2024 · 3 comments
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Application Proposal Proposal submitted by applicants Grant Work in Progress Passed review and work in progress

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@p51lee
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p51lee commented May 28, 2024

General Grant Proposal

Project Overview 📄

Overview

This task intensively explores quantum threats to the Ethereum cryptosystem; it will probably contain almost everything Ethereum developers need to know about quantum computing.

Project Details

Through this project, we aim to investigate the potential threats that quantum computers pose to the Ethereum cryptosystem.

Overall process of breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem

To propose a quantum computer canary for Ethereum, it is necessary to understand every process of breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem by quantum computers.

We suggest four main processes: quantum algorithms for breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem, quantum programming languages and frameworks for implementing quantum algorithms, quantum error correction techniques for realizing logical qubits by physical qubits, and quantum hardware for the final execution.

We target to provide a detailed survey of the following topics:

  1. Quantum algorithms for breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem
    • Introduction to quantum circuits and algorithms
    • What are the quantum algorithms that can break the Ethereum cryptosystem?
    • How do these quantum algorithms break the Ethereum cryptosystem?
  2. Quantum programming languages and frameworks: implementing quantum algorithms
    • Introduction to quantum programming languages and frameworks
    • Implementing a program that breaks the Ethereum cryptosystem
    • Optimization techniques for quantum programs
  3. Quantum error correction techniques for realizing logical qubits by physical qubits
    • Introduction to Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era
    • Difference between logical qubits and physical qubits
    • Quantum error correction algorithm
  4. Quantum hardware for implementing quantum algorithms
    • Detailed exploration of each kind of quantum hardware
      • Principles of each kind of quantum hardware
      • Strengths and weaknesses of each kind of quantum hardware
      • Current state of each quantum hardware for implementing the quantum algorithms
        • Number of qubits
        • Error rate
        • Gate time
      • Kind of quantum hardware
        • Ion trap quantum computer
        • Superconducting quantum computer
        • Photonic quantum computer
        • Neutral atom quantum computer
        • Rydberg atom quantum computer

Quantum Computer Canary

As a result of investigating the overall process, we will propose a quantum computer canary for Ethereum. The quantum computer canary can answer the following questions:

  1. What is the minimum number of logical qubits required to break the Ethereum cryptosystem?
  2. What is the minimum number of physical qubits required to realize the logical qubits?
  3. What is the minimum number of quantum gates required to implement the quantum algorithms?
  4. What is the current state of each quantum hardware for implementing the quantum algorithms, in terms of the number of qubits, error rate, and gate time?
  5. Which kind of quantum hardware is the most suitable for breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem in the near future?
  6. What kind of research results are considered as a "dead canary" to the Ethereum cryptosystem? (i.e., room-temperature superconductor, etc.)

Directions of Safe Exit: Quantum-Resistant Cryptosystem

Finally, we will introduce a quantum-resistant cryptosystem, lattice-based cryptosystem, as a direction of safe exit from the quantum threats to the Ethereum cryptosystem. Also, if possible, we will also explore the quantum algorithm for lattice-based cryptosystem that shook the cryptography field not long ago, and its internal bug that was found recently.

Team 👥

Team members

Team Website

Team's experience

  • B.S. in Physics at KAIST, South Korea.
  • M.S. in Computer Science at KAIST, South Korea.

I'm a first-year Ph.D. student at KAIST. My research interests are quantum computing and programming languages. I have advanced experience in quantum physics, which is essential for understanding hardware-level quantum computing.

I also have research experience in quantum computing. My M.S. thesis was verifying and testing quantum computing simulators and optimizers using Coq. With this work, I revealed 19 quantum-related bugs in the quantum computing frameworks of IBM, Google, etc. The paper is currently under anonymous review for publication.

Team Code Repos

Development Roadmap 🔩

Overview

  • Total Estimated Duration: 26 weeks
  • Total Estimated Working Hours: 520 hr
  • Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5
  • Expected Start Date: Jun 2nd 2024
  • Expected End Date: Dec 1st 2024

Milestone 1️⃣ Quantum Algorithms for Breaking the Ethereum Cryptosystem

  • Estimated Duration: 4 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Jun 30th 2024

Deliverables and Specifications

0a. Introduction to Quantum Circuits and Algorithms for Programmers

We will provide a brief introduction to quantum circuits and algorithms especially for programmers who are not familiar with quantum computing. The introduction will cover the following topics:

  • Brief introduction to quantum mechanics
  • What is a quantum algorithm?
    • What is a qubit?
    • What is superposition?
    • What is entanglement?
    • What is a quantum gate?
    • What is a quantum circuit?
  • What is quantum supremacy?
    • Simple example of quantum supremacy: Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm
0b. Deep Dive into Quantum Algorithms that can Break the Ethereum Cryptosystem

We will provide a deep dive into quantum algorithms that can break the Ethereum cryptosystem. The deep dive will cover the following topics:

  • What is the quantum algorithm that can break cryptosystems?
    • Detailed explanation of Shor's algorithm
  • How does the quantum algorithm break the Ethereum cryptosystem?
    • Detailed explanation of possible scenarios of breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem
    • Time and space complexity of breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem

Milestone 2️⃣ Quantum Programming Languages and Frameworks: Implementing Quantum Algorithms

  • Estimated Duration: 4 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Jul 28th 2024

Deliverables and Specifications

0a. Introduction to Quantum Programming Languages and Frameworks

We will provide a brief introduction to quantum programming languages and frameworks. The introduction will cover the following topics:

  • Purpose of quantum programming languages and frameworks
  • Popular quantum programming languages and frameworks (IBM Qiskit, Google Cirq, etc.)
0b. Implementation: an Example Program That Breaks the Ethereum Cryptosystem

By using a quantum programming language and framework, we will provide an example program that breaks the Ethereum cryptosystem (possibly small-scale).
We will give a detailed tutorial on how to implement the program, and how to run the program on a quantum simulator provided by the quantum programming framework.

0c. Optimization Techniques for Quantum Programs

We will provide an explanation of state-of-the-art optimization techniques for quantum programs. Also, we will conduct experiments to measure their effects on the performance of our example program.

Milestone 3️⃣ Quantum Error Correction Techniques for Realizing Logical Qubits by Physical Qubits

  • Estimated Duration: 4 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Aug 25th 2024

Deliverables and Specifications

0a. Introduction to Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) Era

We will provide a brief introduction to the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era. The introduction will cover the nature of noise in quantum computers, and the scalability issues of quantum computers.

0b. Difference between Logical Qubits and Physical Qubits

We will provide a detailed explanation of the difference between logical qubits and physical qubits. We will also explain the necessity of quantum error correction techniques for realizing logical qubits by physical qubits.

Furthermore, we will also conduct experiments to measure the effect of noise on the performance of quantum algorithms, by executing the example program implemented in Milestone 2 on a quantum simulator with noise.

0c. Quantum Error Correction Algorithm

We will provide a detailed explanation of quantum error correction algorithms. We will also conduct experiments to measure the performance of the quantum error correction algorithm, by applying the algorithm to the example program implemented in Milestone 2 and executing it on a quantum simulator with noise.

Milestone 4️⃣ Quantum Hardware for Implementing Quantum Algorithms

  • Estimated Duration: 8 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Oct 20th 2024

Deliverables and Specifications

Understanding and organizing the current state of quantum hardware is essential for proposing a quantum computer canary for Ethereum.
Since it requires the knowledge of physics graduate students and a lot of effort, we estimate that it will take 8 weeks.

0a. Advanced Introduction to Quantum Physics

We will provide an advanced introduction to quantum physics that is essential for understanding hardware-level quantum computing. The introduction will cover Hamiltonian, Schrödinger equation, and other essential topics.

0b. Principles of Each Kind of Quantum Hardware

We will provide an explanation of the principles of each kind of quantum hardware. The explanation will cover the principles of ion trap quantum computer, superconducting quantum computer, photonic quantum computer, neutral atom quantum computer and Rydberg atom quantum computer. We will try to keep the explanation as simple as possible, so that non-experts can understand it.

0c. Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Kind of Quantum Hardware

We will investigate the strengths and weaknesses of each kind of quantum hardware, to understand which kind of quantum hardware is the most suitable for breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem in the near future.

0d. Current State of Each Quantum Hardware for Implementing the Quantum Algorithms

We will investigate the current state of each quantum hardware for implementing the quantum algorithms. The investigation will cover the number of qubits, error rate, and gate time of each quantum hardware.

Milestone 5️⃣ Quantum Computer Canary for Ethereum

  • Estimated Duration: 4 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Nov 17th 2024

This milestone will propose a quantum computer canary for Ethereum, which is the final conclusion of this project.

Deliverables and Specifications

0a. Minimum Number of Logical Qubits Required to Break the Ethereum Cryptosystem

Using the knowledge and implementation obtained from Milestones 1-2, we will propose the minimum number of logical qubits required to break the Ethereum cryptosystem, and provide a code and detailed explanation of how we obtained the number.

0b. Minimum Number of Physical Qubits Required to Realize the Logical Qubits

Using the knowledge and implementation obtained from Milestones 1-3, we will propose the minimum number of physical qubits required to realize the logical qubits, and provide a code and detailed explanation of how we obtained the number.

0c. Minimum Number of Quantum Gates Required to Implement the Quantum Algorithms

Using the knowledge and implementation obtained from Milestones 1-4, we will propose the minimum number of quantum gates required to implement the quantum algorithms, and provide a code and detailed explanation of how we obtained the number.

0d. Current State of Each Quantum Hardware for Implementing the Quantum Algorithms

We will compare the minimum number of logical qubits, physical qubits, and quantum gates required to break the Ethereum cryptosystem with the current state of each quantum hardware for implementing the quantum algorithms, in terms of the number of qubits, error rate, and gate time.

0e. Which Kind of Quantum Hardware is the Most Suitable for Breaking the Ethereum Cryptosystem in the Near Future?

Based on the comparison between the minimum requirements and the current state and potential scalability of each quantum hardware, we will propose which kind of quantum hardware is the most suitable for breaking the Ethereum cryptosystem in the near future.

0f. What Kind of Research Results are Considered as a "Dead Canary" for the Ethereum Cryptosystem?

We will investigate what kind of research results or technical development are considered as a threat to the Ethereum cryptosystem, such as discovery of room-temperature superconductor, etc.

Milestone 6 Directions of Safe Exit: Quantum-Resistant Cryptosystem

  • Estimated Duration: 2 weeks
  • FTE: 0.5
  • Estimated delivery date: Dec 1st 2024

Deliverables and Specifications

0a. Introduction to Lattice-Based Cryptosystem

We will provide a brief introduction to lattice-based cryptosystem, which is a quantum-resistant cryptosystem.
The introduction will cover the principles and its public-key encryption scheme.

0b. Quantum Algorithm for Lattice-Based Cryptosystem

In this April, an efficient quantum algorithm for lattice-based cryptosystem was proposed, and it shook the whole post-quantum cryptography field. We will provide a detailed explanation of the quantum algorithm for lattice-based cryptosystem, and its internal bug that was found recently.

@p51lee
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p51lee commented May 28, 2024

Hello @NOOMA-42, can you kindly check the proposal? As the topic covers a relatively unfamilar and complex area, the project became lengthy as I wrote down the necessary processes. If you think this is too much, please let me know.

@NOOMA-42 NOOMA-42 added the Application Proposal Proposal submitted by applicants label May 28, 2024
@NOOMA-42
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still looking for grant liaison, it might takes time

@p51lee
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p51lee commented Aug 1, 2024

Hello @NOOMA-42 , when will I be notified of the review results?

@NOOMA-42 NOOMA-42 added the Grant Work in Progress Passed review and work in progress label Sep 7, 2024
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