arXiv:2409.16075 · Machine Learning Science and Technology

Ultra-low latency quantum-inspired machine learning predictors implemented on FPGA

Lorenzo Borella, Alberto Coppi, Andrea Triossi, J. Pazzini, M. Zanetti, Andrea Stanco, Marco Trenti

Published Dec 10, 2025• 6 citations

Abstract

Abstract Tensor networks (TNs) are a computational paradigm used for representing quantum many-body systems. Recent works have shown how TNs can also be applied to perform machine learning (ML) tasks, yielding comparable results to standard supervised learning techniques. In this work, we study the use of Tree TNs (TTNs) in high-frequency real-time applications by exploiting the low-latency hardware of the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. We present different implementations of TTN classifiers, capable of performing inference on classical ML datasets as well as on complex physics data. A preparatory analysis of bond dimensions and weight quantization is realized in the training phase, together with entanglement entropy and correlation measurements, that help setting the choice of the TTN architecture. The generated TTNs are then deployed on a hardware accelerator; using an FPGA integrated into a server, the inference of the TTN is completely offloaded. Eventually, a classifier for high energy physics applications is implemented and executed fully pipelined with sub-microsecond latency.

DOI: 10.1088/2632-2153/ae25b5

Related papers

Tree Tensor Network implemented on FPGA as ultra-low latency binary classifiers.

Lorenzo Borella, Alberto Coppi, J. Pazzini +3 more

Tensor Networks (TNs) are a computational framework traditionally used to model quantum many-body systems. Recent research has demonstrated that TNs can also be effectively applied to Machine Learning (ML) tasks, producing results comparable to conventional supervised learning methods. In this work, we investigate the use of Tree Tensor Networks (TTNs) for high-frequency real-time applications by harnessing the low-latency capabilities of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). We present the implementation of TTN classifiers on FPGA hardware, optimized for performing inference on classical ML benchmarking datasets. Various degrees of parallelization are explored to evaluate the trade-offs between resource utilization and algorithm latency. By deploying these TTNs on a hardware accelerator and utilizing an FPGA integrated into a server, we fully offload the TTN inference process, demonstrating the system’s viability for real-time ML applications.

International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP)Jan 27, 20250 citations

Towards Tensor Network Models for Low-Latency Jet Tagging on FPGAs

Alberto Coppi, Ema Puljak, Lorenzo Borella +6 more

We present a systematic study of Tensor Network (TN) models $\unicode{x2013}$ Matrix Product States (MPS) and Tree Tensor Networks (TTN) $\unicode{x2013}$ for real-time jet tagging in high-energy physics, with a focus on low-latency deployment on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Motivated by the strict requirements of the HL-LHC Level-1 trigger system, we explore TNs as compact and interpretable alternatives to deep neural networks. Using low-level jet constituent features, our models achieve competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art deep learning classifiers. We investigate post-training quantization to enable hardware-efficient implementations without degrading classification performance or latency. The best-performing models are synthesized to estimate FPGA resource usage, latency, and memory occupancy, demonstrating sub-microsecond latency and supporting the feasibility of online deployment in real-time trigger systems. Overall, this study highlights the potential of TN-based models for fast and resource-efficient inference in low-latency environments.

cs.LGCross-listedarXiv:2601.10801Jan 19, 2026

Quantum-inspired machine learning on high-energy physics data

Timo Felser, Marco Trenti, L. Sestini +4 more

Abstract Tensor Networks, a numerical tool originally designed for simulating quantum many-body systems, have recently been applied to solve Machine Learning problems. Exploiting a tree tensor network, we apply a quantum-inspired machine learning technique to a very important and challenging big data problem in high-energy physics: the analysis and classification of data produced by the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. In particular, we present how to effectively classify so-called b-jets, jets originating from b-quarks from proton–proton collisions in the LHCb experiment, and how to interpret the classification results. We exploit the Tensor Network approach to select important features and adapt the network geometry based on information acquired in the learning process. Finally, we show how to adapt the tree tensor network to achieve optimal precision or fast response in time without the need of repeating the learning process. These results pave the way to the implementation of high-frequency real-time applications, a key ingredient needed among others for current and future LHCb event classification able to trigger events at the tens of MHz scale.

arXiv:2004.13747npj Quantum InformationJul 15, 202147 citations

Low-latency machine learning FPGA accelerator for multi-qubit-state discrimination

Gautam, Pradeep Kumar, Shantharam Kalipatnapu, H Shankaranarayanan +4 more

Measuring a qubit state is a fundamental yet error-prone operation in quantum computing. These errors can arise from various sources, such as crosstalk, spontaneous state transitions, and excitations caused by the readout pulse. Here, we utilize an integrated approach to deploy neural networks onto field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA). We demonstrate that implementing a fully connected neural network accelerator for multi-qubit readout is advantageous, balancing computational complexity with low latency requirements without significant loss in accuracy. The neural network is implemented by quantizing weights, activation functions, and inputs. The hardware accelerator performs frequency-multiplexed readout of five superconducting qubits in less than 50 ns on a radio frequency system on chip (RFSoC) ZCU111 FPGA, marking the advent of RFSoC-based low-latency multi-qubit readout using neural networks. These modules can be implemented and integrated into existing quantum control and readout platforms, making the RFSoC ZCU111 ready for experimental deployment.

arXiv:2407.03852Jul 4, 20241 citation

Tree-tensor-network classifiers for machine learning: From quantum inspired to quantum assisted

Michael L. Wall, Giuseppe D’Aguanno

We describe a quantum-assisted machine learning method in which multivariate data are encoded into quantum states in a Hilbert space whose dimension is exponentially large in the length of the data vector. Learning in this space occurs through applying a low-depth quantum circuit with a tree-tensor-network (TTN) topology acting as an unsupervised feature extractor to identify the most relevant quantum states in a data-driven fashion and then applying a supervised linear classifier encoding the class decision in a small-dimensional quantum register. We present tools for making TTN classifiers amenable to implementation on gate-based quantum computing devices, including an embedding map with accuracy similar to the recently defined exponential machines (A. Novikov et al., arXiv:1605.03795) but which produces valid quantum state embeddings of classical data vectors, and the use of manifold-based gradient optimization schemes to produce isometric operations mapping quantum states to a register of qubits defining a class decision. We detail methods for efficiently obtaining one-point and two-point correlation functions of the vectors defining the decision boundary of the quantum model, which can be used for model interpretability, as well as methods for obtaining classification decisions from partial data vectors. Further, we show that the use of isometric tensors can significantly aid in the human interpretability of the correlation functions extracted from the decision weights and may produce models that are less susceptible to adversarial perturbations. Finally, we discuss in detail the problem of compiling classically optimized isometric TTN models into unitary operations to be run on quantum computers and how isometric models requiring postselection on quantum hardware can be used to precondition variational Ans\"atze for models without postselection. We demonstrate our methodologies in applications utilizing the MNIST database of handwritten digits and a multivariate time-series data set of human activity recognition.

arXiv:2104.02249Physical Review AOct 7, 202132 citations

Hardware-Aware Tensor Networks for Real-Time Quantum-Inspired Anomaly Detection at Particle Colliders

S. V. Addepalli, P. Bhattarai, Abhilasha Dave +1 more

Quantum machine learning offers the ability to capture complex correlations in high-dimensional feature spaces, crucial for the challenge of detecting beyond the Standard Model physics in collider events, along with the potential for unprecedented computational efficiency in future quantum processors. Near-term utilization of these benefits can be achieved by developing quantum-inspired algorithms for deployment in classical hardware to enable applications at the "edge" of current scientific experiments. This work demonstrates the use of tensor networks for real-time anomaly detection in collider detectors. A spaced matrix product operator (SMPO) is developed that provides sensitivity to a variety beyond the Standard Model benchmarks, and can be implemented in field programmable gate array hardware with resources and latency consistent with trigger deployment. The cascaded SMPO architecture is introduced as an SMPO variation that affords greater flexibility and efficiency in ways that are key to edge applications in resource-constrained environments. These results reveal the benefit and near-term feasibility of deploying quantum-inspired ML in high energy colliders.

arXiv:2603.26604Mar 27, 20260 citations