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:2407.19499

Expectation value estimation with parametrized quantum circuits

Bujiao Wu, Kong, Lingyu, Yuxuan Yan, Fuchuan Wei, Zhenhuan Liu

Published Jul 28, 2024• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Estimating properties of quantum states, such as fidelities, molecular energies, and correlation functions, is a fundamental task in quantum information science. Due to the limitation of practical quantum devices, including limited circuit depth and connectivity, estimating even linear properties encounters high sample complexity. To address this inefficiency, we propose a framework that optimizes sample complexity for estimating the expectation value of any observable using a shallow parameterized quantum circuit. Within this framework, we introduce two decomposition algorithms, a tensor network approach and a greedy projection approach that decompose the target observable into a linear combination of multiple observables, each of which can be diagonalized with the shallow circuit. Using this decomposition, we then apply an importance sampling algorithm to estimate the expectation value of the target observable. We numerically demonstrate the performance of our algorithm by estimating the expectation values of some specific Hamiltonians and inner product of a Slater determinant with a pure state, highlighting advantages compared to some conventional methods. Additionally, we derive the fundamental lower bound for the sample complexity required to estimate a target observable using a given shallow quantum circuit, thereby enhancing our understanding of the capabilities of shallow circuits in quantum learning tasks.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2407.19499

Related papers

Shallow Shadows: Expectation Estimation Using Low-Depth Random Clifford Circuits

Christian Bertoni, Jonas Haferkamp, Marcel Hinsche +3 more

We provide practical and powerful schemes for learning properties of a quantum state using a small number of measurements. Specifically, we present a randomized measurement scheme modulated by the depth of a random quantum circuit in one spatial dimension. This scheme interpolates between two known classical shadows schemes based on random Pauli measurements and random Clifford measurements. We focus on the regime where depth scales logarithmically in the system size and provide evidence that this retains the desirable sample complexity properties of both extremal schemes while also being experimentally feasible. We present methods for two key tasks; estimating expectation values of certain observables from generated classical shadows and, computing upper bounds on the depth-modulated shadow norm, thus providing rigorous guarantees on the accuracy of the output estimates. We achieve our findings by bringing together tools from shadow estimation, random circuits, and tensor networks.

Physical Review Letters•Jul 10, 2024•55 citations

Estimating properties of a quantum state by importance-sampled operator shadows

Naixu Guo, Pan, Feng, Patrick Rebentrost

Measuring properties of quantum systems is a fundamental problem in quantum mechanics. We provide a simple method for estimating the expectation value of observables with an unknown quantum state. The idea is to use a data structure to sample the terms of observables based on the Pauli decomposition proportionally to their importance. We call this technique operator shadow as a shorthand for the procedure of preparing a sketch of an operator to estimate properties. Only when the numbers of observables are small for multiple local observables, the sample complexity of this method is better than the classical shadow technique. However, if we want to estimate the expectation value of a linear combination of local observables, for example the energy of a local Hamiltonian, the sample complexity is better on all parameters. The time complexity to construct the data structure is $2^{O(k)}$ for $k$-local observables, similar to the post-processing time of classical shadows.

arXiv:2305.09374•May 16, 2023•0 citations

Derandomized shallow shadows: Efficient Pauli learning with bounded-depth circuits

Katherine Van Kirk, Christian Kokail, Jonathan Kunjummen +7 more

Efficiently estimating large numbers of non-commuting observables is an important subroutine of many quantum science tasks. We present the derandomized shallow shadows (DSS) algorithm for efficiently learning a large set of non-commuting observables, using shallow circuits to rotate into measurement bases. Exploiting tensor network techniques to ensure polynomial scaling of classical resources, our algorithm outputs a set of shallow measurement circuits that approximately minimizes the sample complexity of estimating a given set of Pauli strings. We numerically demonstrate systematic improvement, in comparison with state-of-the-art techniques, for energy estimation of quantum chemistry benchmarks and verification of quantum many-body systems, and we observe DSS's performance consistently improves as one allows deeper measurement circuits. These results indicate that in addition to being an efficient, low-depth, stand-alone algorithm, DSS can also benefit many larger quantum algorithms requiring estimation of multiple non-commuting observables.

arXiv:2412.18973•Dec 25, 2024•0 citations

Shallow shadows: Expectation estimation using low-depth random Clifford circuits

Christian Bertoni, Jonas Haferkamp, Marcel Hinsche +3 more

We provide practical and powerful schemes for learning many properties of an unknown n-qubit quantum state using a sparing number of copies of the state. Specifically, we present a depth-modulated randomized measurement scheme that interpolates between two known classical shadows schemes based on random Pauli measurements and random Clifford measurements. These can be seen within our scheme as the special cases of zero and infinite depth, respectively. We focus on the regime where depth scales logarithmically in n and provide evidence that this retains the desirable properties of both extremal schemes whilst, in contrast to the random Clifford scheme, also being experimentally feasible. We present methods for two key tasks; estimating expectation values of certain observables from generated classical shadows and, computing upper bounds on the depth-modulated shadow norm, thus providing rigorous guarantees on the accuracy of the output estimates. We consider observables that can be written as a linear combination of poly(n) Paulis and observables that can be written as a low bond dimension matrix product operator. For the former class of observables both tasks are solved efficiently in n. For the latter class, we do not guarantee efficiency but present a method that works in practice; by variationally computing a heralded approximate inverses of a tensor network that can then be used for efficiently executing both these tasks.

arXiv:2209.12924•Sep 26, 2022•8 citations

A joint optimization approach of parameterized quantum circuits with a tensor network

Clara Ferreira Cores, Kaur Kristjuhan, Mark Jones

Despite the advantage quantum computers are expected to deliver when performing simulations compared to their classical counterparts, the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices remain limited in their capabilities. The training of parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) remains a significant practical challenge, exacerbated by the requirement of shallow circuit depth necessary for their hardware implementation. Hybrid methods employing classical computers alongside quantum devices, such as the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), have proven useful for analyzing the capabilities of NISQ devices to solve relevant optimization problems. Still, in the simulation of complex structures involving the many-body problem in quantum mechanics, major issues remain about the representation of the system and obtaining results which clearly outperform classical computational devices. In this research contribution we propose the use of parameterized Tensor Networks (TNs) to attempt an improved performance of the VQE algorithm. A joint approach is presented where the Hamiltonian of a system is encapsulated into a Matrix Product Operator (MPO) within a parameterized unitary TN hereby splitting up the optimization task between the TN and the VQE. We show that the hybrid TN-VQE implementation improves the convergence of the algorithm in comparison to optimizing randomly-initialized quantum circuits via VQE.

arXiv:2402.12105•Feb 19, 2024•0 citations

Classical Algorithms for Estimating Expectation Values in Linear Optical Circuits

Anonymous, Changhun Oh

We present a classical algorithm for approximating the expectation values of observables in linear optical circuits with arbitrary product input states, achieving additive-error accuracy. This result indicates that current applications of photonic systems aimed at demonstrating practical quantum advantage through expectation value estimation, such as photonic variational algorithms, may face challenges in attaining the computational advantage. It also implies the output probabilities of boson sampling with arbitrary product input states can be efficiently approximated by our method, so that boson sampling becomes efficiently simulable when its output probability distribution is polynomially sparse. We also develop an efficient classical algorithm for estimating transition amplitudes of arbitrary product states in linear optical circuits. This provides additive-error approximation algorithms for matrix functions associated with linear optical circuits, such as the (loop-)Hafnian, which are of independent interest. As an application, it solves the generalized molecular vibronic spectra problem [C. Oh et al., Nat. Phys. 20, 225 (2024)10.1038/s41567-023-02308-9], previously suggested as a candidate for practical quantum advantage. Finally, we extend our framework to near-Clifford circuits, enabling classical approximation of their expectation values.

arXiv:2502.12882•Physical Review Letters•Aug 13, 2026•0 citations
Estimating properties of quantum states, such as fidelities, molecular energies, and correlation functions, is a fundamental task in quantum information science. Due to the limitation of practical quantum devices, including limited circuit depth and connectivity, estimating even linear properties encounters high sample complexity. To address this inefficiency, we propose a framework that optimizes sample complexity for estimating the expectation value of any observable using a shallow parameterized quantum circuit. Within this framework, we introduce two decomposition algorithms, a tensor network approach and a greedy projection approach that decompose the target observable into a linear combination of multiple observables, each of which can be diagonalized with the shallow circuit. Using this decomposition, we then apply an importance sampling algorithm to estimate the expectation value of the target observable. We numerically demonstrate the performance of our algorithm by estimating the expectation values of some specific Hamiltonians and inner product of a Slater determinant with a pure state, highlighting advantages compared to some conventional methods. Additionally, we derive the fundamental lower bound for the sample complexity required to estimate a target observable using a given shallow quantum circuit, thereby enhancing our understanding of the capabilities of shallow circuits in quantum learning tasks.
We provide practical and powerful schemes for learning properties of a quantum state using a small number of measurements. Specifically, we present a randomized measurement scheme modulated by the depth of a random quantum circuit in one spatial dimension. This scheme interpolates between two known classical shadows schemes based on random Pauli measurements and random Clifford measurements. We focus on the regime where depth scales logarithmically in the system size and provide evidence that this retains the desirable sample complexity properties of both extremal schemes while also being experimentally feasible. We present methods for two key tasks; estimating expectation values of certain observables from generated classical shadows and, computing upper bounds on the depth-modulated shadow norm, thus providing rigorous guarantees on the accuracy of the output estimates. We achieve our findings by bringing together tools from shadow estimation, random circuits, and tensor networks.
Measuring properties of quantum systems is a fundamental problem in quantum mechanics. We provide a simple method for estimating the expectation value of observables with an unknown quantum state. The idea is to use a data structure to sample the terms of observables based on the Pauli decomposition proportionally to their importance. We call this technique operator shadow as a shorthand for the procedure of preparing a sketch of an operator to estimate properties. Only when the numbers of observables are small for multiple local observables, the sample complexity of this method is better than the classical shadow technique. However, if we want to estimate the expectation value of a linear combination of local observables, for example the energy of a local Hamiltonian, the sample complexity is better on all parameters. The time complexity to construct the data structure is 2O(k)2^{O(k)}2O(k) for kkk-local observables, similar to the post-processing time of classical shadows.
Efficiently estimating large numbers of non-commuting observables is an important subroutine of many quantum science tasks. We present the derandomized shallow shadows (DSS) algorithm for efficiently learning a large set of non-commuting observables, using shallow circuits to rotate into measurement bases. Exploiting tensor network techniques to ensure polynomial scaling of classical resources, our algorithm outputs a set of shallow measurement circuits that approximately minimizes the sample complexity of estimating a given set of Pauli strings. We numerically demonstrate systematic improvement, in comparison with state-of-the-art techniques, for energy estimation of quantum chemistry benchmarks and verification of quantum many-body systems, and we observe DSS's performance consistently improves as one allows deeper measurement circuits. These results indicate that in addition to being an efficient, low-depth, stand-alone algorithm, DSS can also benefit many larger quantum algorithms requiring estimation of multiple non-commuting observables.
We provide practical and powerful schemes for learning many properties of an unknown n-qubit quantum state using a sparing number of copies of the state. Specifically, we present a depth-modulated randomized measurement scheme that interpolates between two known classical shadows schemes based on random Pauli measurements and random Clifford measurements. These can be seen within our scheme as the special cases of zero and infinite depth, respectively. We focus on the regime where depth scales logarithmically in n and provide evidence that this retains the desirable properties of both extremal schemes whilst, in contrast to the random Clifford scheme, also being experimentally feasible. We present methods for two key tasks; estimating expectation values of certain observables from generated classical shadows and, computing upper bounds on the depth-modulated shadow norm, thus providing rigorous guarantees on the accuracy of the output estimates. We consider observables that can be written as a linear combination of poly(n) Paulis and observables that can be written as a low bond dimension matrix product operator. For the former class of observables both tasks are solved efficiently in n. For the latter class, we do not guarantee efficiency but present a method that works in practice; by variationally computing a heralded approximate inverses of a tensor network that can then be used for efficiently executing both these tasks.
Despite the advantage quantum computers are expected to deliver when performing simulations compared to their classical counterparts, the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices remain limited in their capabilities. The training of parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) remains a significant practical challenge, exacerbated by the requirement of shallow circuit depth necessary for their hardware implementation. Hybrid methods employing classical computers alongside quantum devices, such as the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), have proven useful for analyzing the capabilities of NISQ devices to solve relevant optimization problems. Still, in the simulation of complex structures involving the many-body problem in quantum mechanics, major issues remain about the representation of the system and obtaining results which clearly outperform classical computational devices. In this research contribution we propose the use of parameterized Tensor Networks (TNs) to attempt an improved performance of the VQE algorithm. A joint approach is presented where the Hamiltonian of a system is encapsulated into a Matrix Product Operator (MPO) within a parameterized unitary TN hereby splitting up the optimization task between the TN and the VQE. We show that the hybrid TN-VQE implementation improves the convergence of the algorithm in comparison to optimizing randomly-initialized quantum circuits via VQE.
We present a classical algorithm for approximating the expectation values of observables in linear optical circuits with arbitrary product input states, achieving additive-error accuracy. This result indicates that current applications of photonic systems aimed at demonstrating practical quantum advantage through expectation value estimation, such as photonic variational algorithms, may face challenges in attaining the computational advantage. It also implies the output probabilities of boson sampling with arbitrary product input states can be efficiently approximated by our method, so that boson sampling becomes efficiently simulable when its output probability distribution is polynomially sparse. We also develop an efficient classical algorithm for estimating transition amplitudes of arbitrary product states in linear optical circuits. This provides additive-error approximation algorithms for matrix functions associated with linear optical circuits, such as the (loop-)Hafnian, which are of independent interest. As an application, it solves the generalized molecular vibronic spectra problem [C. Oh et al., Nat. Phys. 20, 225 (2024)10.1038/s41567-023-02308-9], previously suggested as a candidate for practical quantum advantage. Finally, we extend our framework to near-Clifford circuits, enabling classical approximation of their expectation values.