On the Quantum LINPACK Benchmark*

The LINPACK benchmark reports the performance of a computer for solving systems of linear equations with pseudo-dense random matrices, and has been used to define the list of TOP500 supercomputers since the debut of the list in 1993. We propose that a quantum LINPACK benchmark could be used to measure the whole machine performance of quantum computers. We propose an input model called the RAndom Circuit Block-Encoded Matrix (RACBEM), which is a proper generalization of a dense random matrix in the quantum setting. The RACBEM model is efficient to be implemented on a quantum computer, and can be designed to optimally adapt to any given quantum architecture, with relying on a black-box quantum compiler. The result of the quantum LINPACK benchmark demonstrates the performance of a quantum computer in solving scientific computing problems.