Quacee: A New Quantum Programming Language for Specifying Quantum Computations

In this paper, Quacee (QUAntum Computing Elucidation Extension), a new quantum programming language, was designed, developed, and demonstrated. In addition, a basic simulator of a quantum computer was created and used to test Quacee functionality.

As research progresses towards the goal of programmable universal quantum computers able to support a wide range of quantum algorithms, there is a corresponding need for mechanisms to describe the desired computations and program the quantum computers. Quacee was designed to meet this need. First, a set of requirements was established for Quacee, then it was designed to meet these requirements. Additionally, Quacee has been designed to support the quantum circuit model and is independent of the physical manifestation of quantum hardware. It supports a wide range of standard quantum gates, including the Hadamard, the CNot, the Toffoli, and others. It also supports the ability to specify new custom quantum gates and a number of higher-level quantum circuit operations. Quacee is easy to use and was demonstrated by using it to program a number of existing quantum algorithms.