General Questions
1. What is the main use case for QTCAD?
QTCAD is a simulation software for quantum technology developed by Nanoacademic Technologies Inc. It includes both finite-element and atomistic modeling capabilities, enabling multiscale simulations across various types of quantum devices.
For a more detailed overview, see the Introduction section.
2. Which Python versions are supported?
Each version of QTCAD only supports a specific Python version. Specifically:
QTCAD v2.1 and later → require Python 3.13
QTCAD v2.0 → requires Python 3.12
QTCAD versions earlier than 2.0 → require Python 3.10
Other Python versions are not supported or tested. Using unsupported versions may lead to import errors, unexpected behavior, or failed builds.
To verify your current Python version:
python --version
Our recommended installation method uses conda to set up the environment and automatically install the correct Python version.
3. Is QTCAD multi-threaded?
Yes. In all QTCAD solvers, the critical bottlenecking computations are multi-threaded to maximize performance.
Additionally, we employ efficient algorithmic improvements that provide performance benefits even when running on a single thread. For example, the Coulomb integral calculations in the many-body solver have been optimized with a new method that significantly speeds up the computation regardless of threading.
We are actively working on further optimizations and will continue to improve the software’s scalability and efficiency.
4. What are the system requirements for QTCAD?
For detailed description of the software and hardware requirements, please refer to the Software requirements page.