Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2109.14351 · Quantum Science and Technology

A framework for optimal quantum spatial search using alternating phase-walks

S. Marsh, Jingbo B. Wang

Published Sep 14, 2021• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We present a novel methodological framework for quantum spatial search, generalising the Childs & Goldstone ( CG ) algorithm via alternating applications of marked-vertex phase shifts and continuous-time quantum walks. We determine closed form expressions for the optimal walk time and phase shift parameters for periodic graphs. These parameters are chosen to rotate the system about subsets of the graph Laplacian eigenstates, amplifying the probability of measuring the marked vertex. The state evolution is asymptotically optimal for any class of periodic graphs having a fixed number of unique eigenvalues. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm by applying it to obtain O ( N ) search on a variety of graphs. One important class is the n × n 3 rook graph, which has N = n 4 vertices. On this class of graphs the CG algorithm performs suboptimally, achieving only O ( N − 1 / 8 ) overlap after time O ( N 5 / 8 ) . Using the new alternating phase-walk framework, we show that O ( 1 ) overlap is obtained in O ( N ) phase-walk iterations.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/ac26af

Related papers

Deterministic spatial search using alternating quantum walks

S. Marsh, Jingbo B. Wang

This paper examines the performance of spatial search where the Grover diffusion operator is replaced by continuous-time quantum walks on a class of interdependent networks. We prove that, for a set of optimal quantum walk times and marked vertex phase shifts, a deterministic algorithm for structured spatial search is established that finds the marked vertex with 100% probability. This improves on the Childs and Goldstone spatial search algorithm on the same class of graphs, which we show can only amplify to 50% probability. Our method uses $\ensuremath{\lceil}\frac{\ensuremath{\pi}}{2\sqrt{2}}\sqrt{N}\ensuremath{\rceil}$ marked vertex phase shifts for an $N$-vertex graph, making it comparable to Grover's algorithm for an unstructured search. It is expected that this framework can be readily extended to deterministic spatial search on other families of graph structures.

arXiv:2104.03806•Physical Review A•Aug 24, 2021•15 citations

Multimarked Spatial Search by Continuous-Time Quantum Walk

Pedro H. G. Lugão, Renato Portugal, Mohamed Sabri +1 more

The quantum-walk-based spatial search problem aims to find a marked vertex using a quantum walk on a graph with marked vertices. We describe a framework for determining the computational complexity of spatial search by continuous-time quantum walk on arbitrary graphs by providing a recipe for finding the optimal running time and the success probability of the algorithm. The quantum walk is driven by a Hamiltonian derived from the adjacency matrix of the graph modified by the presence of the marked vertices. The success of our framework depends on the knowledge of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the adjacency matrix. The spectrum of the Hamiltonian is subsequently obtained from the roots of the determinant of a real symmetric matrix M , the dimensions of which depend on the number of marked vertices. The eigenvectors are determined from a basis of the kernel of M . We show each step of the framework by solving the spatial searching problem on the Johnson graphs with a fixed diameter and with two marked vertices. Our calculations show that the optimal running time is \(O(\sqrt {N})\) with an asymptotic probability of 1+ o (1), where N is the number of vertices.

arXiv:2203.14384•ACM Transactions on Quantum Computing•Nov 27, 2024•5 citations

Universal approach to deterministic spatial search via alternating quantum walks

Qing‐Wen Wang, Ying Jiang, Shiguang Feng +1 more

Spatial search is an important problem in quantum computation, which aims to find a marked vertex on a graph. We propose a novel approach for designing deterministic quantum search algorithms on a variety of graphs via alternating quantum walks. Our approach is universal because it does not require an instance-specific analysis for different graphs. We highlight the flexibility of our approach by proving that for Johnson graphs, rook graphs, complete-square graphs and complete bipartite graphs, our quantum algorithms can find the marked vertex with $100\%$ success probability and achieve quadratic speedups over classical algorithms. This not only gives an alternative succinct way to prove the existing results, but also leads to new interesting findings on more general graphs.

arXiv:2307.16133•Jul 30, 2023•2 citations

Unifying quantum spatial search, state transfer, and uniform sampling on graphs

Qingwen Wang, Ying Jiang, Shiguang Feng +1 more

In this article, we present a succinct algorithmic framework via alternating quantum walks, unifying quantum spatial search, state transfer, and uniform sampling on a large class of graphs. Using the framework, we can achieve exact uniform sampling over all vertices and perfect state transfer between any two vertices, provided that eigenvalues of Laplacian matrix of the graph are all integers. Furthermore, if the graph is vertex transitive as well, then we can achieve deterministic quantum spatial search that finds a marked vertex with probability $100%$. In contrast, existing quantum search algorithms generally have a certain probability of failure. Even if the graph is not vertex transitive, such as the complete bipartite graph, we can still adjust the algorithmic framework to obtain deterministic spatial search, which thus shows the flexibility of it. Besides unifying and improving plenty of previous results, our work provides results on more graphs. The approach is easy to use since it has a succinct formalism that depends only on the depth of the Laplacian eigenvalue set of the graph, and may shed light on the solution of more problems related to graphs.

arXiv:2407.02530•Physical Review A•Apr 9, 2025•6 citations

Optimality of spatial search via continuous-time quantum walks

Shantanav Chakraborty, Leonardo Novo, Jérémie Roland

One of the most important algorithmic applications of quantum walks is to solve spatial search problems. A widely used quantum algorithm for this problem, introduced by Childs and Goldstone [Phys. Rev. A 70, 022314 (2004)], finds a marked node on a graph of $n$ nodes via a continuous-time quantum walk. This algorithm is said to be optimal if it can find any of the nodes in $O(\sqrt{n})$ time. However, given a graph, no general conditions for the optimality of the algorithm are known and previous works demonstrating optimal quantum search for certain graphs required an instance-specific analysis. In fact, the demonstration of the necessary and sufficient conditions that a graph must fulfill for quantum search to be optimal has been a long-standing open problem. In this work we make significant progress towards solving this problem. We derive general expressions, depending on the spectral properties of the Hamiltonian driving the walk, that predict the performance of this quantum search algorithm provided certain spectral conditions are fulfilled. Our predictions are valid, for example, for (normalized) Hamiltonians whose spectral gap is considerably larger than ${n}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. This allows us to derive necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal quantum search in this regime, as well as provide examples of graphs where quantum search is suboptimal. In addition, by extending this analysis, we are also able to show the optimality of quantum search for certain graphs with very small spectral gaps, such as graphs that can be efficiently partitioned into clusters. Our results imply that, to the best of our knowledge, all prior results analytically demonstrating the optimality of this algorithm for specific graphs can be recovered from our general results.

arXiv:2004.12686•Physical Review A•Sep 14, 2020•37 citations

Spatial search for a general multi-vertex state on graph by continuous-time quantum walks

Xi Li, Hanwu Chen, Yue Ruan +3 more

In this work, we consider the spatial search for a general marked state on graphs by continuous time quantum walks. As a simplest case, we compute the amplitude expression of the search for the multi-vertex uniform superposition state on hypercube, and find that the spatial search algorithm is optimal for the two-vertex uniform state. However, on general graphs, a common formula can't be obtained for searching a general non-uniform superposition state. Fortunately, a Laplacian spectrum condition which determines whether the associated graph could be appropriate for performing the optimal spatial search is presented. The condition implies that if the proportion of the maximum and the non-zero minimum Laplacian eigenvalues is less or equal to 1+sqrt(1/2), then the spatial search is optimal for any general state. At last, we apply this condition to three kind graphs, the induced complete graph, the strongly regular graph and the regular complete multi-partite graphs. By the condition, one can conclude that these graphs will become suitable for optimal search with properly setting their graph parameters.

arXiv:1804.03042•Apr 9, 2018•0 citations
Abstract We present a novel methodological framework for quantum spatial search, generalising the Childs & Goldstone ( CG ) algorithm via alternating applications of marked-vertex phase shifts and continuous-time quantum walks. We determine closed form expressions for the optimal walk time and phase shift parameters for periodic graphs. These parameters are chosen to rotate the system about subsets of the graph Laplacian eigenstates, amplifying the probability of measuring the marked vertex. The state evolution is asymptotically optimal for any class of periodic graphs having a fixed number of unique eigenvalues. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm by applying it to obtain O ( N ) search on a variety of graphs. One important class is the n × n 3 rook graph, which has N = n 4 vertices. On this class of graphs the CG algorithm performs suboptimally, achieving only O ( N − 1 / 8 ) overlap after time O ( N 5 / 8 ) . Using the new alternating phase-walk framework, we show that O ( 1 ) overlap is obtained in O ( N ) phase-walk iterations.
This paper examines the performance of spatial search where the Grover diffusion operator is replaced by continuous-time quantum walks on a class of interdependent networks. We prove that, for a set of optimal quantum walk times and marked vertex phase shifts, a deterministic algorithm for structured spatial search is established that finds the marked vertex with 100% probability. This improves on the Childs and Goldstone spatial search algorithm on the same class of graphs, which we show can only amplify to 50% probability. Our method uses $\ensuremath{\lceil}\frac{\ensuremath{\pi}}{2\sqrt{2}}\sqrt{N}\ensuremath{\rceil}$ marked vertex phase shifts for an NNN-vertex graph, making it comparable to Grover's algorithm for an unstructured search. It is expected that this framework can be readily extended to deterministic spatial search on other families of graph structures.
The quantum-walk-based spatial search problem aims to find a marked vertex using a quantum walk on a graph with marked vertices. We describe a framework for determining the computational complexity of spatial search by continuous-time quantum walk on arbitrary graphs by providing a recipe for finding the optimal running time and the success probability of the algorithm. The quantum walk is driven by a Hamiltonian derived from the adjacency matrix of the graph modified by the presence of the marked vertices. The success of our framework depends on the knowledge of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the adjacency matrix. The spectrum of the Hamiltonian is subsequently obtained from the roots of the determinant of a real symmetric matrix M , the dimensions of which depend on the number of marked vertices. The eigenvectors are determined from a basis of the kernel of M . We show each step of the framework by solving the spatial searching problem on the Johnson graphs with a fixed diameter and with two marked vertices. Our calculations show that the optimal running time is O(N)O(\sqrt {N})O(N​) with an asymptotic probability of 1+ o (1), where N is the number of vertices.
Spatial search is an important problem in quantum computation, which aims to find a marked vertex on a graph. We propose a novel approach for designing deterministic quantum search algorithms on a variety of graphs via alternating quantum walks. Our approach is universal because it does not require an instance-specific analysis for different graphs. We highlight the flexibility of our approach by proving that for Johnson graphs, rook graphs, complete-square graphs and complete bipartite graphs, our quantum algorithms can find the marked vertex with 100%100\%100% success probability and achieve quadratic speedups over classical algorithms. This not only gives an alternative succinct way to prove the existing results, but also leads to new interesting findings on more general graphs.
In this article, we present a succinct algorithmic framework via alternating quantum walks, unifying quantum spatial search, state transfer, and uniform sampling on a large class of graphs. Using the framework, we can achieve exact uniform sampling over all vertices and perfect state transfer between any two vertices, provided that eigenvalues of Laplacian matrix of the graph are all integers. Furthermore, if the graph is vertex transitive as well, then we can achieve deterministic quantum spatial search that finds a marked vertex with probability 100100%100. In contrast, existing quantum search algorithms generally have a certain probability of failure. Even if the graph is not vertex transitive, such as the complete bipartite graph, we can still adjust the algorithmic framework to obtain deterministic spatial search, which thus shows the flexibility of it. Besides unifying and improving plenty of previous results, our work provides results on more graphs. The approach is easy to use since it has a succinct formalism that depends only on the depth of the Laplacian eigenvalue set of the graph, and may shed light on the solution of more problems related to graphs.
One of the most important algorithmic applications of quantum walks is to solve spatial search problems. A widely used quantum algorithm for this problem, introduced by Childs and Goldstone [Phys. Rev. A 70, 022314 (2004)], finds a marked node on a graph of nnn nodes via a continuous-time quantum walk. This algorithm is said to be optimal if it can find any of the nodes in O(n)O(\sqrt{n})O(n​) time. However, given a graph, no general conditions for the optimality of the algorithm are known and previous works demonstrating optimal quantum search for certain graphs required an instance-specific analysis. In fact, the demonstration of the necessary and sufficient conditions that a graph must fulfill for quantum search to be optimal has been a long-standing open problem. In this work we make significant progress towards solving this problem. We derive general expressions, depending on the spectral properties of the Hamiltonian driving the walk, that predict the performance of this quantum search algorithm provided certain spectral conditions are fulfilled. Our predictions are valid, for example, for (normalized) Hamiltonians whose spectral gap is considerably larger than ${n}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. This allows us to derive necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal quantum search in this regime, as well as provide examples of graphs where quantum search is suboptimal. In addition, by extending this analysis, we are also able to show the optimality of quantum search for certain graphs with very small spectral gaps, such as graphs that can be efficiently partitioned into clusters. Our results imply that, to the best of our knowledge, all prior results analytically demonstrating the optimality of this algorithm for specific graphs can be recovered from our general results.
In this work, we consider the spatial search for a general marked state on graphs by continuous time quantum walks. As a simplest case, we compute the amplitude expression of the search for the multi-vertex uniform superposition state on hypercube, and find that the spatial search algorithm is optimal for the two-vertex uniform state. However, on general graphs, a common formula can't be obtained for searching a general non-uniform superposition state. Fortunately, a Laplacian spectrum condition which determines whether the associated graph could be appropriate for performing the optimal spatial search is presented. The condition implies that if the proportion of the maximum and the non-zero minimum Laplacian eigenvalues is less or equal to 1+sqrt(1/2), then the spatial search is optimal for any general state. At last, we apply this condition to three kind graphs, the induced complete graph, the strongly regular graph and the regular complete multi-partite graphs. By the condition, one can conclude that these graphs will become suitable for optimal search with properly setting their graph parameters.