Scalable Open Source Qec System

---
name: scalable-open-source-qec-system
category: ai_collection
description: Open-source QEC system architecture using RISC-V-based quantum control with sub-microsecond decoding-feedback latency. FPGA-implemented distributed multi-board architecture for superconducting qubits.
tags:
  - quantum-error-correction
  - systems-engineering
  - FPGA
  - RISC-V
  - distributed-architecture
arxiv_id: "2603.16203"
arxiv_url: "https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.16203"
trigger_words:
  - QEC system
  - quantum error correction system
  - RISC-V quantum control
  - RFSoC FPGA
  - sub-microsecond decoding
  - distributed quantum control
  - surface code decoder
  - syndrome decoding
---

# Scalable Open-Source QEC System Architecture

## Overview

A fully integrated Quantum Error Correction (QEC) system built on RISC-Q, a generator for RISC-V-based quantum control architectures. Implemented on RFSoC FPGAs with real-time qubit control, distributed multi-board architecture, and hardware QEC decoder.

## Core Architecture

### 1. RISC-Q Control Architecture

- RISC-V-based quantum control processor generator
- Customizable instruction set for quantum operations
- Low-latency real-time control loop

### 2. Distributed Multi-Board Architecture

- Scalable across multiple AMD ZCU216 RFSoC boards
- High-speed inter-board communication for syndrome aggregation
- Distributed syndrome decoding pipeline

### 3. Low-Latency Decoding Pipeline

- End-to-end latency: 446 ns for distance-3 surface code
- Includes: syndrome aggregation → network communication → syndrome decoding → error distribution
- Sub-microsecond latency projected up to distance-21 (~881 physical qubits)

### 4. Hardware Components

- **RFSoC FPGAs**: AMD ZCU216 for high-speed digital signal processing
- **Real-time qubit control**: Microwave pulse generation and readout
- **Syndrome aggregation**: Multi-qubit parity measurement collection
- **Hardware decoder**: Dedicated FPGA logic for fast decoding

## Performance Metrics

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Distance-3 latency | 446 ns |
| Max projected distance | 21 |
| Max projected qubits | ~881 |
| Hardware platform | AMD ZCU216 RFSoC |

## Implementation Steps

1. **RISC-Q Configuration**: Generate custom RISC-V control processor
2. **FPGA Implementation**: Synthesize on RFSoC hardware
3. **Multi-Board Setup**: Configure distributed architecture
4. **Decoding Pipeline**: Implement syndrome aggregation and decoding
5. **Integration Testing**: Validate end-to-end latency

## Application

Use when:
- Designing real-time QEC systems for superconducting qubits
- Building FPGA-based quantum control hardware
- Scaling QEC to 100+ physical qubits
- Implementing low-latency syndrome decoding