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arXiv:2207.01686 · Quantum Information Processing

Quantitative approach to Grover’s quantum walk on graphs

Gamal Mograby, Radhakrishnan Balu, Kasso A. Okoudjou, Alexander Teplyaev

Published Jan 20, 2024• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we study Grover’s search algorithm focusing on continuous-time quantum walk on graphs. We propose an alternative optimization approach to Grover’s algorithm on graphs that can be summarized as follows: Instead of finding specific graph topologies convenient for the related quantum walk, we fix the graph topology and vary the underlying graph Laplacians. As a result, we search for the most appropriate analytical structure on graphs endowed with fixed topologies yielding better search outcomes. We discuss strategies to investigate the optimality of Grover’s algorithm and provide an example with an easy tunable graph Laplacian to investigate our ideas.

DOI
10.1007/s11128-023-04212-w

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Abstract In this paper, we study Grover’s search algorithm focusing on continuous-time quantum walk on graphs. We propose an alternative optimization approach to Grover’s algorithm on graphs that can be summarized as follows: Instead of finding specific graph topologies convenient for the related quantum walk, we fix the graph topology and vary the underlying graph Laplacians. As a result, we search for the most appropriate analytical structure on graphs endowed with fixed topologies yielding better search outcomes. We discuss strategies to investigate the optimality of Grover’s algorithm and provide an example with an easy tunable graph Laplacian to investigate our ideas.
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.
This paper explores the application of quantum walk algorithms to graph traversal and search problems. Classical algorithms often struggle with the computational complexity of traversing and searching large graphs, leading to significant time and resource limitations. Quantum walks, utilizing superposition and interference, offer a potential pathway to achieve exponential speedups. This work details the theoretical framework for applying quantum walks to graph problems, specifically focusing on traversal and search tasks. We present a generalized approach for mapping graph structures onto quantum walk systems and discuss the key mathematical formulations involved. The core of our investigation revolves around the construction of quantum walk operators that mimic the movement and interaction rules inherent in graph traversal. We analyze the evolution of the quantum walk state and derive expressions for the probability of reaching a specific node in the graph. Furthermore, we examine the impact of graph topology on the performance of the quantum walk, highlighting the potential for tailored algorithms to exploit specific graph structures. The results demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of quantum walk algorithms for significantly accelerating graph traversal and search operations, contributing to advancements in areas such as network analysis, database management, and artificial intelligence.
We study Grover's quantum walk on a new class of graphs, termed segmented complete graphs, which combine high symmetry with detailed spectral properties. Using these graphs, we implement Grover's search algorithm and investigate its performance, focussing on the relationship between graph volume, optimal search time and success probabilities. Our results generalize classical findings for directed weighted graphs and provide new insights into enhancing quantum search algorithms on complex graph structures.This article is part of the theme issue 'Numerical analysis, spectral graph theory, orthogonal polynomials and quantum algorithms'.
One of the significant breakthroughs in quantum computation is Grover’s algorithm for unsorted database search. Recently, the applications of Grover’s algorithm to solve global optimization problems have been demonstrated, where unknown optimum solutions are found by iteratively improving the threshold value for the selective phase shift operator in Grover rotation. In this paper, a hybrid approach that combines continuous-time quantum walks with Grover search is proposed. By taking advantage of quantum tunneling effect, local barriers are overcome and better threshold values can be found at the early stage of search process. The new algorithm based on the formalism is demonstrated with benchmark examples of global optimization. The results between the new algorithm and the Grover search method are also compared.
Kronecker graphs, obtained by repeatedly performing the Kronecker product of the adjacency matrix of an ``initiator'' graph with itself, have risen in popularity in network science due to their ability to generate complex networks with real-world properties. We explore spatial search by continuous-time quantum walk on Kronecker graphs. Specifically, we give analytical proofs for quantum search on first-, second-, and third-order Kronecker graphs with the complete graph as the initiator, showing that search takes Grover's O(N)O(\sqrt{N})O(N​) time. Numerical simulations indicate that higher-order Kronecker graphs with the complete initiator also support optimal quantum search.