Quantum computing has progressed from ideas and research to implementation and product development. The original gate or circuit model of quantum computing has now been supplemented with several novel architectures that promise a quicker path to implementation and scaling. Additionally, there are multiple physical devices capable of providing controllable evolution of a quantum wave function which could form the basis for a quantum computer.
Real quantum computers implement a specific architecture using a particular choice of underlying devices. The combination of architecture and device gives rise to the programming model and operating characteristics of the system. The programming model in turn determines what kinds of algorithms the system can execute.
The D-Wave system uses an adiabatic architecture with niobium flux qubits integrated on silicon wafers. The programming model is error tolerant and allows for native expression of optimization problems stated over Boolean variables. This underlying capability allows for the execution of a wide class of optimization problems on the system. The challenge in using this system is to find efficient mappings from the application domain.
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