--- title: "How is the Quantum Orchestration Platform and the OPX+ different from general-purpose test/lab equipment?" date: "2021-02-23T16:30:08+00:00" modified: "2023-06-21T17:35:57+00:00" url: "https://www.quantum-machines.co/faq/how-is-the-quantum-orchestration-platform-and-the-opx-different-from-general-purpose-test-lab-equipment/" description: "The Quantum Orchestration Platform is a whole new paradigm for quantum control and is fundamentally different from general-purpose test equipment like AWGs, lock-ins, digitizers, etc." --- # How is the Quantum Orchestration Platform and the OPX+ different from general-purpose test/lab equipment? The Quantum Orchestration Platform is a whole new paradigm for quantum control and is fundamentally different from general-purpose test equipment like AWGs, lock-ins, digitizers, etc. The main differences are: 1. The span of quantum experiments & algorithms which can be run out-of-the-box 2. The pace of the research and development 3. The level of adequacy of the specific specs & capabilities required for quantum research & development (e.g like latency, run-time, etc) **1) The span of quantum experiments & algorithms which can be run out-of-the-box** We like to think of the span of experiments & algorithms which a system can run as the subspace of the [experimental phase-space that it covers](https://www.quantum-machines.co/products/opx/). While AWGs, Lock-ins, digitizers cover specific points or small regions in this phase space, the quantum orchestration platform covers it entirely. In other words, each general-purpose test tool, even if it is re-branded as a quantum controller, has a fixed set of allowable functions. The [Quantum Orchestration Platform (QOP)](https://www.quantum-machines.co/solutions/quantum-computing-at-scale/) however, is a full-stack system allowing you to easily and quickly run even your dream experiments and real-time sequences out-of-the-box, from a [high-level programming language, QUA](https://www.quantum-machines.co/keep-your-finger-on-the-pulse-with-qua-a-pulse-level-quantum-programming-language/). In most cases, each test and measure tool can be expressed and implemented as a single QUA program that can run on the QOP. Alternatively, each such instrument can be described by omitting a different subspace of the full QOP’s phase-space. **2) The pace of the research and development** Every once in a while you have a new brilliant idea for an experiment. While these ideas are more groundbreaking, they are also more challenging and end up being outside the scope of your general-purpose test equipment (its subspace). Once this happens, you have 3 choices: 1. **Repurpose your general-purpose**. It appears that in all labs such repurposing draws an incredible amount of time and resources, which comes at the expense of the physics and science to be explored. Whether it’s FPGA programming, coding libraries, dealing with drivers, or synchronizing different modules, labs spend years of work on repurposing general-purpose AWGs, Lock-ins, and digitizers for quantum control. It’s often required even for the simplest Ramsey and spectroscopy, and it’s always a must when it comes to multi-axes tomography, the 2-qubit RB sequence, and all the way to multi-qubit quantum-error-correction. We’ve met students who themselves spent months and years doing so. We actually did it ourselves! 2. **Give up your brilliant idea and introduce a new constraint for your ideas’ phase-space**. It must comply with the experimental phase-space covered by your existing control system. 3. **Get an OPX+!** We firmly believe that scientific progress relies on ideas, but also on the capabilities of the tools we use. Even our ideas in many cases stem from what we define as technically possible. Our goal at QM is to let you imagine any experiment, the most groundbreaking research, and the most sought-for flagship papers, and always know: yes, of course, it can run. Right out of the box! In experimental physics, there are many bottlenecks. Long fabrication processes, mirrors alignment (and re-alignment!), helium leakages, vacuum-chamber baking, lead times of crucial equipment, and last but not least: in-house development of quantum control capabilities. Specifically, in quantum computing, the control layer can either be an enabler to progress rapidly and run even the most complex experiments seamlessly or be one of the leading bottlenecks in the lab. Our mission is to allow all teams to run even the wildest experiments of their dreams seamlessly and push the boundaries of the physics they can explore to a whole new level. **3) The level of adequacy for the specific specs & capabilities required for quantum research & development** The general-purpose equipment available today was not built for quantum. In the best-case scenario, it was rebranded. AWGs, lock-ins, and digitizers are used for communication systems, lidars, medical device research, and the list goes on. Of course, we don’t mind non-quantum-experimentalists using the same machines, but this has several consequences. First, these machines are limited in the feature-set they provide. They are also misaligned with the requirements of quantum computing by not supplying you with the critical features you require. And finally, they equip you with quite a few features you simply don’t need (that you’re still paying for). The QOP full-stack quantum control hardware and software and all of its features was created by quantum physicists for quantum physicists, with your experimental needs in mind.