Questions tagged [qaoa]

For questions about the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), first introduced in Farhi, Goldstone, Gutmann 2014 (https://arxiv.org/abs/1411.4028).

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Is VQE a class of algorithms or a specific algorithm?

Is VQE a class of algorithms or a specific algorithm? For example, is QAOA a VQE or is VQE an algorithm distinct from QAOA that solves the same class of problems? If VQE is a specific algorithm, what ...
Malcolm Regan's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the difference between QAOA and Quantum Annealing?

Edward Farhi's paper on the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm introduces a way for gate model quantum computers to solve combinatorial optimization algorithms. However, D-Wave style quantum ...
hopefully coherent's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
374 views

What does the paper "Training Variational Quantum Algorithms Is NP-Hard (Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 120502)" mean?

I have seen the recent paper "Training Variational Quantum Algorithms Is NP-Hard (Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 120502)" and the authors stated that training the classical optimization in ...
Chao-Hua Yu's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
834 views

Why exactly are variational algorithms considered promising?

There is obviously a great deal of work happening at the moment on variational quantum algorithms. However, I'm struggling to understand why exactly are they considered promising? Looking through some ...
Nikita Nemkov's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
638 views

Barren plateaus in quantum neural network training landscapes

Here the authors argue that the efforts of creating a scalable quantum neural network using a set of parameterized gates are deemed to fail for a large number of qubits. This is due to the fact that, ...
asdf's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
3k views

What's the role of mixer in QAOA?

In QAOA algorithm, two terms are being discussed; 1) clause or cost (C) Hamiltonian and 2) mixer consisting of pauli X gates. What is the role of this mixer? Not clear why it comes after the C. ...
John Parker's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
684 views

Why does QAOA achieve quantum supremacy in an algorithmic sense?

In the paper Quantum Supremacy through the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm the authors claim (last sentence of page 15): "If [...] the QAOA outperforms all known classical algorithms ...
Nepomuk Hirsch's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
429 views

Is there a mistake in the VQE Ansatz in Cirq's tutorial?

I have been going through Cirq's VQE background tutorial and after examining the Ansatz it seems to me that the only layer that actually affects the final measurement is the rot_x_layer. The other ...
dncolomer's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
1k views

QUBO, Ising Hamiltonians and VQA

I understand that usually the combinatorial optimisation problems are turned into QUBO, which has a very simple mapping to Ising Hamiltonians. Ising Hamiltonians in turn have the desired properties of ...
karolyzz's user avatar
  • 269
7 votes
2 answers
137 views

Quantum annealing - studies showing empirical evidence for better performance in comparison with classical computers

Currently, it is not known wheter quantum anneling or algorithms like VQE and QAOA for general purpose quantum computers bring about any increase in computational power. However, there are some ...
Martin Vesely's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
467 views

Properties of QAOA

The QAOA algorithm consists of two elements: The outer loop, basically a classical optimization algorithm The quantum circuit, taking $2p$ parameters (where $p$ is the number of layers, where each ...
Nepomuk Hirsch's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
311 views

Why QAOA with $p \rightarrow \infty $ gives the optimal solution?

In the QAOA paper, it is shown that the optimal value of the p-ansatz $M_p$ converges to $\max_z C(z)$ as $p \rightarrow \infty$ on page 10. The proof is to relate to QAOA by considering the time-...
John Wong's user avatar
  • 291
6 votes
0 answers
99 views

In QAOA why do we need $m \log(m)$ repetitions to get at least $F_{p}(\beta , \gamma) - 1$ with probability of $1 - 1/m$?

In the original QAOA paper from Farhi https://arxiv.org/pdf/1411.4028.pdf, it is stated in chapter 2 last paragraph (page 6) that: when measuring $F_{p}(\beta , \gamma)$ we get an outcome of at least ...
Hannah's user avatar
  • 519
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to show mathematically the equivalency between Ising Model and QUBO?

It is said that the Ising Model using spin variables $s ∈ \{−1, 1\}$ $$H(s)=\sum_{i}h_is_i+\sum_{i<j}J_{ij}s_is_j,$$ and a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem with binary ...
26118in's user avatar
  • 458
5 votes
1 answer
470 views

Can QAOA be considered as simulation of a quantum annealer on a gate-based quantum computer?

Quantum annealers are single purpose machines allowing to solve quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problems. QUBO problems have following objective function: $$ F=-\sum_{i<j}J_{ij}...
Martin Vesely's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
821 views

Solving higher-order (unconstrained) binary optimization problems with QAOA without quadratization

I am aware that it's possible to use QAOA to solve QUBO problems. However, I've recently seen some sources mentioning the possibility of solving HOBO/HUBO problems using QAOA as well [1][3]. While I ...
kontojulii's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
76 views

Recent experimental demonstrations of variational quantum algorithms?

I am interested in the recent experimental demonstrations of variational quantum algorithms. Can someone please provide me with a list of references of recent experimental demonstrations of ...
Soumik Adhikary's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
74 views

How to use Warm-Start QAOA in QisKit to solve non-convex QUBO problem?

I have a non-convex QUBO problem that I'd like to solve by warm-starting QAOA with a solution obtained from a continuous relaxation solution obtained by a classical algorithm. The specifics of the ...
underdog987's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Calculating the ground states of an Ising Hamiltonian on a real quantum computer

I have followed this tutorial and based on it, I've written the following function in qiskit, which can explicitly calculate the ground states of a transverse-field Ising Hamiltonian. ...
EventicTortoise's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
143 views

In QAOA, why do we pick the initial Hamiltonian $B$ to be $\sigma_x$ applied to each qubit?

In QAOA 1, why do we pick the initial Hamiltonian $B$ to be $\sigma_x$ applied to each qubit? Would it be possible to pick $B$ to be an application of $\sigma_z$'s instead? Then $C$ and $B$ would be ...
Dina Abdelhadi's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
432 views

How does the classical optimization of the angles $\gamma$ and $\beta$ in QAOA work?

I have been trying to implement QAOA with classical optimization of the angles $\gamma$ and $\beta$, but I I'm failing at the classical part. In paper Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm: ...
Hannah's user avatar
  • 519
4 votes
1 answer
164 views

Derivation of QAOA from AQC

In adiabatic quantum optimization we start with an initial Hamiltonian $H_0$ and then adiabatically evolve from $H_0$ to $H_P$ (problem hamiltonian) for a time $T$ according to \begin{equation}\label{...
nuemlouno's user avatar
  • 177
4 votes
1 answer
341 views

How to theoretically compare the complexity of quantum and classical algorithms?

I am working on reducing an NP class problem to a QUBO so can be solved with QAOA. I know that there is not a practical way to compare the performance as there is no QPU with enough qubits. I am doing ...
Sup's user avatar
  • 101
4 votes
1 answer
339 views

Is the cost Hamiltonian unitary in QAOA?

I am trying to implement QAOA and there are things I don't understand at all. The expansion of $H$ into Pauli $Z$ operators can be obtained from the canonical expansion of the cost-function $C$ by ...
Himera Ephemera's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
309 views

Statevector Simulation of QAOA always finds exact solution

My question is simple: does applying QAOA with a statevector simulation always result in a perfect solution? I'm trying to calculate the best $\gamma$ & $\beta$ that solve certain problems but my ...
jolene's user avatar
  • 209
4 votes
1 answer
122 views

Resource recommendation on quantum simulations

I would like to know more about quantum simulations, so as to start on a few standard physical models (maybe particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, etc.) and then build up on more complex things. But ...
Bidon's user avatar
  • 808
4 votes
1 answer
168 views

Classical optimisation of angles in QAOA for TSP gets stuck in local minima?

I have been trying to implement a QAOA for solving a traveling salesman problem (TSP) using qulacs and python. However, even for ...
ile2N's user avatar
  • 145
4 votes
1 answer
169 views

QAOA and symmetry effects on the angles

In this paper, QAOA on Maxcut shows symmetries that allow them to restrict their search space intervals. But how do they find such intervals knowing that in the original QAOA angles $\gamma,\beta$ are ...
cnada's user avatar
  • 4,644
4 votes
0 answers
117 views

Probability inequality for Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA)

In arXiv:2207.14734 the authors claim that it is "straightforward to show that" their equation 8 holds: $$\mathrm{Pr}_{x\sim q}[x:f(x)\geq \mu] \geq \frac{1}{M}$$ where we have an objective ...
Juri V's user avatar
  • 105
4 votes
0 answers
135 views

Why does QAOA's performance monotonically increase as p increases?

From A Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm - Farhi et al. The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm has the key feature that as p increases the approximation improves. We contrast this to ...
bubakazouba's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
367 views

What exactly happening in QAOA in a general way?

So I know that in QAOA we have the two hamiltonians. Mixer and Cost Hamiltonian. Lets start: First we have our Qubits which get in the Superposition if we add the Hadamard Gate. Then we have the both ...
Jeff24's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
1 answer
83 views

Papers on classical optimization in QAOA

Are there any papers on the classical optimization part of QAOA? What is the most efficient method now? And how is the classical optimization classified?
Hannah's user avatar
  • 519
3 votes
1 answer
328 views

QAOA for MaxCut - Algorithm motivation

In the QAOA algorithm for MaxCut, the authors construct a very specific scheme where the qubits (corresponding to the vertices of the graph) are transformed using a sequence of unitaries $$|\gamma, \...
user1936752's user avatar
  • 2,439
3 votes
1 answer
118 views

Does QAO Ansatz have any better performance guarantees than QAOA?

QAOA is a well-known heuristic for solving optimization problems, and it has the desirable property that as p -> infinity, the true minimum objective function value is reached. There is a ...
IsalanOnkar's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
428 views

Choosing a different optimizer when running QAOA in qiskit

I am trying to reproduce the QAOA example from https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-applications/qaoa.html and learn how to opt for a different optimizer. The relevant block in the example is (towards the ...
Marion's user avatar
  • 585
3 votes
2 answers
420 views

Why do we decompose the hamiltonian into Pauli strings to measure the expectation value?

Measuring the expectation value of a hamiltonian is an essential step in some algorithms like QAOA. I noticed that the procedure always starts with decomposing the hamiltonian into a sum of Pauli ...
bubakazouba's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
66 views

Is $\gamma \in [0,2 \pi]$ or $\gamma \in [0,\pi]$ in $CU1(2\gamma)_{(i,j)} $?

When wanting to find the groundstate of this Hamiltonian with QAOA: \begin{equation} H_{C} =\sum_{i }^{n}(1 - Z_{i})/2 + \sum_{\{i,j\}\in \overline{E} } - 2(1 - Z_{i})(1 - Z_{j})/4 \end{equation} ...
Hannah's user avatar
  • 519
3 votes
2 answers
163 views

Does QAOA require that the problem Hamiltonian be an Ising Hamiltonian as a quadratic function of the spin variables?

In the context of QAOA, I often see the problem Hamiltonian being called an "Ising Hamiltonian", and shortly after, I that the Hamiltonian is a quadratic function of the spin variables. Is ...
underdog987's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
271 views

qiskit qaoa.compute_minimum_eigenvalue

I am having some trouble running the compute_minimum_eigenvalue method from qiskit's QAOA: the documentation states that one ...
Lord Nexprex's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
850 views

How does the performance of QAOA and VQE compare to Grover's?

I believe finding the optimal solution is guaranteed for Grover's Algorithm along with quadratic speed-up according to Nielsen and Chuang's book. I wonder if there is any statement regarding QAOA and ...
John Parker's user avatar
  • 1,011
3 votes
1 answer
438 views

Can QAOA solve a constraint optimization problem?

Can QAOA solve a constraint binary optimization problem? QAOA is short for Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm. I read the information https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-applications/qaoa.html. But ...
user14153's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
152 views

To find the best angles in QAOA why we do not optimize over a maximum ofall shots instead of a mean?

When finding the best angles for QAOA we optimize over $F_{p}(\beta , \gamma) = \langle \psi_p(\gamma,\beta)|C|\psi_p(\gamma,\beta)\rangle $. In each optimization step we simulate the circuit $m$ ...
Hannah's user avatar
  • 519
3 votes
1 answer
183 views

QAOA Belongs into VQE or the other way around?

I have been reading a couple of papers in the arxiv and wanted to get a clarification regarding the relation between these two methods; is one a subset of the other?
Enrique Segura's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
270 views

QAOA calculation expectation value

Given the QAOA circuit $U(\vec\gamma, \vec\beta)$, associated to some cost hamiltonian $H_C$, and evolving the state $|0\rangle^{\otimes n}$ into $|\vec\gamma, \vec\beta\rangle = U(\vec\gamma, \vec\...
incud's user avatar
  • 631
3 votes
1 answer
183 views

How to use Clifford Data Regression for the MaxCut Problem

i read about Clifford Data Regression in https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.10189.pdf. If I have understood this correctly, then one receives the mitigated expected value of an observable from CDR. For the ...
qrafix's user avatar
  • 53
3 votes
1 answer
238 views

What is the relationship between the mixing operators and initial states found in QAOA and Quantum Annealing?

In many papers, the QAOA is shown to be intimately related to Quantum Annealing/Quantum Adiabatic Algorithm/Adiabatic Quantum Optimization. The mixing operator in the QAOA is described by Hadfield as ...
RMistri's user avatar
  • 41
3 votes
1 answer
133 views

What is the implication of locality in QAOA?

Suppose I am solving the TSP formulated as a QUBO problem using QAOA. I understand from the original paper that there is a parameter $p$ which sets the number of steps used in the alternating ansatz. ...
Alexander Soare's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
106 views

How does the fact that the output of a quantum circuit cannot be efficiently simulated classically help for optimisation?

This question refers principally to the article where for a low-depth circuit QAOA, the output cannot be efficiently simulated classically. I am wondering how this kind of quantum supremacy matters ...
cnada's user avatar
  • 4,644
3 votes
1 answer
53 views

How to sanity check QAOA cost Hamiltonian?

I'm trying to learn QAOA and how to apply it to a complex combinatorial problem. But for the purpose of this question I'll use the common example MaxCut. I'd like to know if I've set up my cost ...
somewhere's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
104 views

Understanding QAOA from Basics/scratch

Recently after working on QAOA with finance and graph coloring problems. I have started exploring the QAOA from scratch. I would like to understand the QAOA derivation mathematically and have started ...
anonymousKet's user avatar