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arXiv:2411.17442

Applying the quantum approximate optimization algorithm to general constraint satisfaction problems

Sami Boulebnane, Maria Ciudad Alañón, Lana Mineh, Ashley Montanaro, Niam Vaishnav

Published Nov 26, 2024• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this work we develop theoretical techniques for analysing the performance of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) when applied to random boolean constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs), and use these techniques to compare the complexity of a variety of CSPs, such as $k$-SAT, 1-in-$k$ SAT, and NAE-SAT. Our techniques allow us to compute the success probability of QAOA with one layer and given parameters, when applied to randomly generated instances of CSPs with $k$ binary variables per constraint, in time polynomial in $n$ and $k$. We apply this algorithm to all boolean CSPs with $k=3$ and a large number of CSPs with $k=4$, $k=5$, and compare the resulting complexity with the complexity of solving the corresponding CSP using the standard solver MapleSAT, determined experimentally. We find that random $k$-SAT seems to be the most promising of these CSPs for demonstrating a quantum-classical separation using QAOA.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2411.17442

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In this work we develop theoretical techniques for analysing the performance of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) when applied to random boolean constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs), and use these techniques to compare the complexity of a variety of CSPs, such as kkk-SAT, 1-in-kkk SAT, and NAE-SAT. Our techniques allow us to compute the success probability of QAOA with one layer and given parameters, when applied to randomly generated instances of CSPs with kkk binary variables per constraint, in time polynomial in nnn and kkk. We apply this algorithm to all boolean CSPs with k=3k=3k=3 and a large number of CSPs with k=4k=4k=4, k=5k=5k=5, and compare the resulting complexity with the complexity of solving the corresponding CSP using the standard solver MapleSAT, determined experimentally. We find that random kkk-SAT seems to be the most promising of these CSPs for demonstrating a quantum-classical separation using QAOA.
One of the most prominent application areas for quantum computers is solving hard constraint satisfaction and optimization problems. However, detailed analyses of the complexity of standard quantum algorithms have suggested that outperforming classical methods for these problems would require extremely large and powerful quantum computers. The quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) is designed for near-term quantum computers, yet previous work has shown strong limitations on the ability of QAOA to outperform classical algorithms for optimization problems. Here we instead apply QAOA to hard constraint satisfaction problems, where both classical and quantum algorithms are expected to require exponential time. We analytically characterize the average success probability of QAOA on a constraint satisfaction problem commonly studied using statistical physics methods: random k -SAT at the threshold for satisfiability, as the number of variables n goes to infinity. We complement these theoretical results with numerical experiments on the performance of QAOA for small n , which match the limiting theoretical bounds closely. We then compare QAOA with leading classical solvers. For random 8-SAT, we find that for more than 14 quantum circuit layers, QAOA achieves more efficient scaling than the highest-performance classical solver we tested, WalkSATlm. Our results suggest that near-term quantum algorithms for solving constraint satisfaction problems may outperform their classical counterparts. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
The main object of study of this work is the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) —the best-known heuristic quantum algorithm for addressing combinatorial optimization problems. Despite its popularity, QAOA poses major challenges. Namely, its performance remains poorly understood, especially in the low depth regime most relevant to near-term quantum computing. Besides, the algorithm is of variational nature, relying on several hyperparameters to be classically trained. In this work, we contribute to addressing these issues by developing techniques to understand the performance of QAOA at low depth, and deducing from these pretrained hyperparameters, thereby eliminating or considerably reducing the need for a classical optimization loop. We first consider applying QAOA to constraint satisfaction problems with the goal of maximizing the algorithm’s approximation ratio (fraction of satisfied constraints). As a particular example, we consider QAOA applied to MAXCUT on non-regular graphs, showing how analytic techniques provide good guess hyperparameters in this setting. Next, we analyze the performance of QAOA on a well-studied constraint satisfaction problem: random k-SAT. In this case, the performance is measured by the probability of finding an assignment satisfying all constraints (“success probability”). To estimate this quantity, we develop new techniques, mapping quantum expectation values of the QAOA circuits to classical spin models. We further show how these techniques can be generalized to a larger family of random constraint satisfaction problems. We conclude the work by two feasibility studies inspired by real-world use cases encountered in collaborations with industrial partners: peptide sampling, and solving flow problems. These problems are naturally phrased by encoding combinatorial variables in qudits, a relatively unexplored setting in the existing literature. We present partial analytic and numerical results for optimal QAOA hyperparameters and the scaling of its success probability in this framework, underlining potential specific difficulties when using QAOA with qudits.
We consider constraint satisfaction problems of bounded degree, with a good notion of "typicality", e.g. the negation of the variables in each constraint is taken independently at random. Using the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA), we show that $ μ+Ω(1/\sqrt{D}) $ fraction of the constraints can be satisfied for typical instances, with the assignment efficiently produced by QAOA. We do so by showing that the averaged fraction of constraints being satisfied is $ μ+Ω(1/\sqrt{D}) $, with small variance. Here $ μ$ is the fraction that would be satisfied by a uniformly random assignment, and $ D $ is the number of constraints that each variable can appear. CSPs with typicality include Max-$ k XORandMax−XOR and Max-XORandMax− k $SAT. We point out how it can be applied to determine the typical ground-state energy of some local Hamiltonians. We also give a similar result for instances with "no overlapping constraints", using the quantum algorithm. We sketch how the classical algorithm might achieve some partial result.
The ability of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) to deliver a quantum advantage on combinatorial optimization problems is still unclear. Recently, a scaling advantage over a classical solver was postulated to exist for random 8-SAT at the satisfiability threshold. At the same time, the viability of quantum error mitigation for deep circuits on near-term devices has been put into doubt. Here we analyze the QAOA's performance on random Max- k XOR as a function of k and the clause-to-variable ratio. As a classical benchmark, we use the mean-field approximate optimization algorithm and find that it performs better than or equal to the QAOA on average. Still, for large k and numbers of layers p , there may remain a window of opportunity for the QAOA. However, by extrapolating our numerical results, we find that reaching high levels of satisfaction would require extremely large p , which must be considered rather difficult both in the variational context and on near-term devices.
Quantum-enhanced constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) solving represents a significant advancement in computational power, potentially enabling the efficient solution of complex optimization problems. This paper investigates the application of quantum annealing and quantum approximate optimization algorithms (QAOA) to tackle CSPs, aiming to demonstrate a substantial speedup compared to classical methods. We explore the core mechanism of leveraging superposition and entanglement to navigate the solution space and identify optimal solutions. The research focuses on a novel quantum algorithm designed to accelerate CSP solving, with the goal of providing a practical and efficient solution to this computationally intensive field. This work will detail the theoretical framework, implementation details, and preliminary results demonstrating the potential of quantum computing for CSP problems.
This paper investigates the potential of quantum algorithms to enhance constraint-based optimization, specifically for complex constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs). We propose a novel quantum approach leveraging quantum annealing and Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) to systematically explore the solution space, aiming to identify optimal or near-optimal solutions more efficiently than classical methods. The core mechanism involves quantum annealing to efficiently manage the exponential scaling issues inherent in many CSPs. We present a preliminary analysis demonstrating the potential for quantum acceleration in solving specific CSPs, highlighting the benefits of this quantum enhancement over classical techniques. The research underscores the promise of quantum optimization for tackling challenging real-world problems.