We proposed a general quantum-computing-based algorithm that harnesses the exponential power of noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices in solving partial differential equations (PDE). This variational quantum eigensolver (VQE)-inspired approach transcends previous idealized model demonstrations constrained by strict and simplistic boundary conditions. It enables the imposition of arbitrary boundary conditions, significantly expanding its potential and adaptability for real-world applications, achieving this "from ad-hoc to systematic" concept. We have implemented this method using the fourth-order PDE (the Euler-Bernoulli beam) as example and showcased its effectiveness with four different boundary conditions. This framework enables expectation evaluations independent of problem size, harnessing the exponentially growing state space inherent in quantum computing, resulting in exceptional scalability. This method paves the way for applying quantum computing to practical engineering applications.
We proposed a general quantum-computing-based algorithm that harnesses the exponential power of noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices in solving partial differential equations (PDE). This variational quantum eigensolver (VQE)-inspired approach transcends previous idealized model demonstrations constrained by strict and simplistic boundary conditions. It enables the imposition of arbitrary boundary conditions, significantly expanding its potential and adaptability for real-world applications, achieving this "from ad-hoc to systematic" concept. We have implemented this method using the fourth-order PDE (the Euler-Bernoulli beam) as example and showcased its effectiveness with four different boundary conditions. This framework enables expectation evaluations independent of problem size, harnessing the exponentially growing state space inherent in quantum computing, resulting in exceptional scalability. This method paves the way for applying quantum computing to practical engineering applications.
Abstract This paper introduces a quantum-enhanced finite element method (FEM) designed for noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, leveraging variational quantum algorithms (VQAs) to solve engineering partial differential equations. We demonstrate the framework by solving the Euler–Bernoulli beam and the NAFEMS T4 heat transfer problems, which involve Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions. A key innovation is a ‘set-to-zero’ strategy that incorporates boundary conditions through a correction matrix, K bc , allowing for flexible imposition at any node without domain decomposition. The global stiffness matrix is decomposed into a constant number of Pauli terms, O (1), using the method by Sato et al while boundary terms are handled with a sublinearly scaling partial Pauli measurement technique. The algorithm achieves logarithmic qubit scaling ( n = ⌈ log 2 N ⌉ qubits for N degrees of freedom(DOF)) and employs shallow, hardware-efficient circuits with empirically trainable depth for small-scale systems. Validation on the Qiskit statevector simulator shows high accuracy. For the Euler–Bernoulli beam problem with 4 to 64 DOF, the algorithm achieves relative errors of 0.5%–1.5% and fidelities of 0.998–0.999. For the NAFEMS T4 heat transfer benchmark, a 5.4% relative error is observed. The VQA converges robustly within 77–350 iterations, though barren plateaus are a known challenge for scaling to larger systems. This work establishes a scalable framework for quantum FEM, offering a significant memory advantage over classical methods and advancing the potential for quantum-enhanced engineering simulations.
Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize computational problem-solving by leveraging the quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement, enabling fundamentally different computational strategies compared to classical computing. Classical methods for solving complex and high dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs), crucial for modeling diverse physical phenomena, suffer from an exponential growth in computational complexity known as the curse of dimensionality. This can limit their effectiveness for certain high-resolution simulations and real-time computational applications. In contrast, quantum computing inherently exploits superposition and entanglement to efficiently represent and simultaneously manipulate large-scale discretized PDEs, using exponentially fewer resources compared to classical systems. There are currently many quantum techniques available for solving partial differential equations (PDEs), which are mainly based on variational quantum circuits. However, the existing quantum PDE solvers, particularly those based on variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) techniques, suffer from several limitations. These include low accuracy, high execution times, and low scalability on quantum simulators as well as on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, especially for multidimensional PDEs. In this work, we propose an efficient and scalable algorithm for solving multidimensional PDEs. We present two variants of our algorithm: the first leverages finite-difference method (FDM), classical-to-quantum (C2Q) encoding, and numerical instantiation, while the second employs FDM, C2Q, and column-by-column decomposition (CCD). Both variants are designed to enhance accuracy and scalability while reducing execution times. We have validated and evaluated our proposed concepts using a number of case studies including multidimensional Poisson equation, multidimensional heat equation, Black Scholes equation for financial option pricing, and Navier-Stokes equation for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), achieving promising results. Our results demonstrate higher accuracy, higher scalability, and faster execution times compared to VQE-based solvers on noise-free and noisy quantum simulators from IBM. Additionally, we validated our approach on hardware emulators and actual quantum hardware, employing noise mitigation techniques. This work establishes a practical and effective approach for solving PDEs using quantum computing for engineering and scientific applications.
The paper presents a variational quantum algorithm to solve initial–boundary value problems described by second-order partial differential equations. The approach uses hybrid classical/quantum framework that is well suited for quantum computers of the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. The partial differential equation is initially translated into an optimal control problem with a modular control-to-state operator (ansatz). The objective function and its derivatives required by the optimizer can efficiently be evaluated on a quantum computer by measuring an ancilla qubit, while the optimization procedure employs classical hardware. The focal aspect of the study is the treatment of boundary conditions, which is tailored to the properties of the quantum hardware using a correction technique. For this purpose, the boundary conditions and the discretized terms of the partial differential equation are decomposed into a sequence of unitary operations and subsequently compiled into quantum gates. The accuracy and gate complexity of the approach are assessed for second-order partial differential equations by classically emulating the quantum hardware. The examples include steady and unsteady diffusive transport equations for a scalar property in combination with various Dirichlet, Neumann, or Robin conditions. The results of this flexible approach display a robust behavior and a strong predictive accuracy in combination with a remarkable polylog complexity scaling in the number of qubits of the involved quantum circuits. Remaining challenges refer to adaptive ansatz strategies that speed up the optimization procedure.
Recent advances in quantum computing and their increased availability has led to a growing interest in possible applications. Among those is the solution of partial differential equations (PDEs) for, e.g., material or flow simulation. Currently, the most promising route to useful deployment of quantum processors in the short to near term are so-called hybrid variational quantum algorithms (VQAs). Thus, variational methods for PDEs have been proposed as a candidate for quantum advantage in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era. In this work, we conduct an extensive study of utilizing VQAs on real quantum devices to solve the simplest prototype of a PDE---the Poisson equation. Although results on noiseless simulators for small problem sizes may seem deceivingly promising, the performance on quantum computers is very poor. We argue that direct resolution of PDEs via an amplitude encoding of the solution is not a good use case within reach of today's quantum devices---especially when considering large system sizes and more complicated nonlinear PDEs that are required in order to be competitive with classical high-end solvers.
Quantum methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) generally fall into a few general categories, each leveraging different quantum mechanisms to achieve potential speedups. One well-known approach is the quantum linear system solver, epitomized by the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm, which uses phase estimation and eigenvalue inversion to solve large, sparse linear systems arising from discretized linear PDEs [1]. This method can yield exponential improvements over classical solvers under certain conditions (mostly when the matrix is well-conditioned and sparse). More recent developments, such as Quantum Singular Value Transformation (QSVT), provide a framework for matrix inversion in a more flexible way, often improving on the cost and error dependence of earlier solvers [2]. Time-dependent PDEs can be tackled via Hamiltonian simulations. The Trotter-Suzuki method decomposes the exponential of a Hamiltonian into products of exponentials of simpler sub-Hamiltonians, allowing a piecewise approximation of continuous dynamics [3]. Continuous-time quantum walks, which treat a PDE operator as a Hamiltonian that governs the walk, similarly simulate processes like diffusion or wave propagation on discretized grids or graphs [4]. Beyond direct simulation, variational quantum algorithms have emerged as a promising route in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. These approaches encode the PDE solution as a parameterized quantum state and optimize the parameters via classical feedback, thereby minimizing a cost function tied to the PDE residual or energy functional [5]. Quantum annealing or adiabatic methods, meanwhile, can solve optimization problems derived from PDE constraints by adiabatically evolving a simple initial Hamiltonian to the final problem Hamiltonian and staying in the system's ground state [3]. In our study, we implement a new parameterized quantum model, specifically designed to solve large linear systems on quantum hardware. This model is less deep and computationally faster than the proposed one in [5], reducing the complexity and speeding up convergence times. Such improvements are particularly valuable in cases where classical algorithms may fail due to the problem's size or complexity. Ongoing research is focusing on generalized quantum models that can be adapted to practical PDE problems for solving large electromagnetic problems where classical computers can fail.
Contemporary quantum computers open up novel possibilities for tackling intricate problems, encompassing quantum system modeling and solving partial differential equations (PDEs). This paper explores the optimization of quantum algorithms aimed at resolving PDEs, presenting a significant challenge within the realm of computational science. The work delves into the application of the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) for addressing equations such as Poisson's equation. It employs a Hamiltonian constructed using a modified Feynman-Kitaev formalism for a VQE, which represents a quantum system and encapsulates information pertaining to the classical system. By optimizing the parameters of the quantum circuit that implements this Hamiltonian, it becomes feasible to achieve minimization, which corresponds to the solution of the original classical system. The modification optimizes quantum circuits by minimizing the cost function associated with the VQE. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated through the illustrative example of solving the Poisson equation. The prospects for its application to the integration of more generalized PDEs are discussed in detail. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the potential advantages of quantum algorithms in the domain of numerical solutions for the Poisson equation and emphasizes the significance of continued research in this direction. By leveraging quantum computing capabilities, the development of more efficient methodologies for solving these equations is possible, which could significantly transform current computational practices. The findings of this work underscore not only the practical advantages but also the transformative potential of quantum computing in addressing complex PDEs. Moreover, the results obtained highlight the critical need for ongoing research to refine these techniques and extend their applicability to a broader class of PDEs, ultimately paving the way for advancements in various scientific and engineering domains.