AWS Quantum Technologies Releases Qiskit-Braket Provider v0.11, Now Compatible with Qiskit 2.0
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AWS Quantum Technologies has released version 0.11 of the Qiskit-Braket provider on February 20, 2026, significantly enhancing how users access and utilize Amazon Braket’s quantum computing services through the popular Qiskit framework. This update introduces new “BraketEstimator” and “BraketSampler” primitives, mirroring Qiskit routines for improved performance and feature integration with Amazon Braket program sets. Importantly, the provider now fully supports Qiskit 2.0 while maintaining compatibility with versions as far back as v0.34.2, allowing users to “use a richer set of tools for executing quantum programs on Amazon Braket.” The release unlocks flexible compilation features, enabling circuits to be compiled directly for Braket devices using the to_braket function, accepting inputs from Qiskit, Braket, and OpenQASM3. Qiskit 2.0 Support and Backwards Compatibility A significant upgrade to the Qiskit-Braket provider now unlocks the power of Qiskit 2.0 for Amazon Braket users, while simultaneously maintaining compatibility with older versions—reaching back to v0.34.2. This dual approach ensures a smooth transition for existing workflows and allows researchers to immediately leverage the performance increases achieved through the refactoring of Qiskit 2.0. The latest release isn’t simply about compatibility; it’s about expanding the toolkit available for quantum program execution. The Qiskit-Braket provider facilitates flexible compilation features for Braket, utilizing standard Qiskit transpilation functionality through the to_braket function. This function is notably versatile, accepting inputs not only from Qiskit but also from Braket and OpenQASM3, and even supporting Qiskit Targets and common transpilation inputs. “You can now compile or transpile to Braket Circuit objects through the to_braket function, which can then be directly submitted to Braket devices,” explains the development team. Previously, these backends relied on simpler wrappers; now, these primitives offer advanced parsing of observables, parameters, and Braket program sets. As stated by the team, these tools are intended to benefit both “seasoned Braket users looking to enhance device-native compilation with Qiskit” and those new to the platform. Flexible Compilation via the to_braket Function The landscape of quantum computation is rapidly evolving, and increasingly, developers demand interoperability between different software frameworks. Currently, users of Amazon Braket have access to tools for executing quantum programs, but the latest release of the Qiskit-Braket provider, version 0.11, significantly expands those capabilities by prioritizing flexible compilation options. Central to this enhancement is the to_braket function, a tool designed to bridge the gap between Qiskit and Braket’s native execution environments. This function isn’t merely a translator; it’s a versatile compilation engine. Importantly, to_braket supports inputs originating from Qiskit, Braket itself, and even OpenQASM3, alongside Qiskit Targets and common transpilation inputs. A demonstration of this functionality involves compiling a four-qubit GHZ state circuit, showcasing how the function prepares the circuit for direct execution on an AwsDevice—specifically, an IQM Garnet device.
The team highlights that the function facilitates compilation “on the Braket SDK or with OpenQASM Programs.” Beyond simple conversion, the update introduces a new level of control. The to_braket function can also accept a QASM string directly, allowing for compilation from a text-based representation of a quantum program. For instance, a provided example demonstrates compiling a circuit defined by a QASM string, complete with custom gate definitions and qubit labels, using the line to_braket( qasm_string, target=backend.target, qubit_labels=backend.qubit_labels, optimization_level=1 ). This level of flexibility empowers users to tailor their compilation process to specific hardware constraints and optimization strategies. With v0.11, the Qiskit-Braket provider now: Supports flexible compilation features for Braket using common Qiskit transpile functionality through the to_braket function Contains new BraketEstimator and BraketSampler primitives, which mirror routines found in similar Qisket primitives, and includes several features aimed at running with Amazon Braket program sets. BraketEstimator and BraketSampler Primitives Introduced Amazon Braket is bolstering its quantum computing toolkit with the introduction of new primitives designed to streamline program execution and enhance performance. This upgrade moves beyond simple wrappers previously used for Braket backends, offering direct access to updated “BraketEstimator” and “BraketSampler” primitives. These primitives are intended to improve how applications utilizing Qiskit circuits run on Braket, allowing for advanced parsing of observables, parameters, and program sets. Previously, the generic BackendEstimator and BackendSampler classes were used, but now users can directly utilize these updated primitives for increased efficiency.
The team demonstrated the capabilities of the BraketEstimator with a sample program set run, showcasing results plotted to visualize expectation values against varying angles. “This includes sum Hamiltonian observables specified by SparsePauliOps, or even numpy-like array inputs,” the team explained.
Charunethran Panchalam Govindarajan, Sr.
Leveraging Braket Program Sets for Enhanced Execution The latest iteration of the Qiskit-Braket provider, version 0.11, is significantly streamlining quantum program execution on Amazon Braket through enhanced support for Braket program sets. Beyond simply enabling compatibility with updated Qiskit versions, the release unlocks performance gains by allowing users to directly harness Braket’s native features within the familiar Qiskit framework. Previously, interactions with Braket backends relied on simpler wrappers, but now, updated “BraketEstimator” and “BraketSampler” primitives offer a more direct and efficient pathway. These new primitives are designed to improve performance and leverage the full capabilities of both Braket and Qiskit. As an example, the provider can now handle complex QASM strings like this: “qubit q; gate majority a, b, c { // set c to the majority of {a, b, c} ctrl @ x c, b; ctrl @ x c, a; ctrl(2) @ x a, b, c; } pow(0.5) @ x q[0:1]; // sqrt x inv @ v q ; // inv of (sqrt x) // this should flip q to 1 majority q , q , q ;”. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a richer toolkit for executing quantum programs, whether you’re an experienced Braket user or new to the platform. Source: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/quantum-computing/qiskit-braket-provider-v0-11-new-primitives-and-flexible-circuit-compilation/ Tags: