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International Conference on Information Technology: New Generations

Analysis of Classical and Quantum Resources for the Quantum Linear Systems Algorithm

Jon Inouye

Published Apr 1, 2013• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

The quantum algorithm by Harrow, Hassidim, and Lloyd solves a system of N linear equations and achieves exponential speedup over classical algorithms under certain conditions. The advantage to the algorithm is that log(N) rather than N registers are required. Given an N x N matrix A and vectors x and b, the quantum algorithm seeks to find x such that Ax = b. By representing vector b as a superposition of quantum states |b>, quantum phase estimation is used to find the corresponding eigenvalues of A. Applying the inverse Fourier transform, we solve for |x> such that |x> = A-1|b>. We model the algorithm using a quantum circuit diagram, with data qubits encoded using the Steane code for fault tolerant quantum phase estimation. Fresh ancilla for error correction are provided using an oracular pipelined ancilla architecture. We then analyze the classical and quantum resources needed for implementation. The significance of this case study is to examine how classical and quantum resources interact in implementing this algorithm. The issues raised in this analysis, such as fault tolerant phase estimation using pipelined ancilla, garbage collection, and the preparation of I/O registers to this architecture, will be explored in more detail in future research.

DOI
10.1109/itng.2013.117

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The quantum algorithm by Harrow, Hassidim, and Lloyd solves a system of N linear equations and achieves exponential speedup over classical algorithms under certain conditions. The advantage to the algorithm is that log(N) rather than N registers are required. Given an N x N matrix A and vectors x and b, the quantum algorithm seeks to find x such that Ax = b. By representing vector b as a superposition of quantum states |b>, quantum phase estimation is used to find the corresponding eigenvalues of A. Applying the inverse Fourier transform, we solve for |x> such that |x> = A-1|b>. We model the algorithm using a quantum circuit diagram, with data qubits encoded using the Steane code for fault tolerant quantum phase estimation. Fresh ancilla for error correction are provided using an oracular pipelined ancilla architecture. We then analyze the classical and quantum resources needed for implementation. The significance of this case study is to examine how classical and quantum resources interact in implementing this algorithm. The issues raised in this analysis, such as fault tolerant phase estimation using pipelined ancilla, garbage collection, and the preparation of I/O registers to this architecture, will be explored in more detail in future research.
Recently (2009) a quantum algorithm for solving a system of linear equations\nhas been proposed. The algorithm by Harrow, Hassidim, and Lloyd has attracted\nconsiderable attention in the quantum algorithms community, due to the broad\npotential applications of a rapid linear equations solver. The contribution of this\nthesis is to analyze the classical and quantum resources required for implementation.\nThe thesis has two major tasks. We first survey the field of quantum\nalgorithms. The papers which established this field (e.g., Feynman and Deutsch) to\nrecent works are reviewed. Different classes of quantum algorithms are examined,\nincluding those based on the Fourier transform, quantum searching, and quantum\nwalk.\nFor the second task, we focus on the algorithm by Harrow, Hassidim, and\nLloyd. The advantages of the algorithm are an exponential performance gain over\nclassical algorithms (under conditions of sparse operator matrices and few selected\nmeasurements from the solution set), and fewer data registers.\nIn the second part of the thesis, we study the classical resources required for\nimplementation of the algorithm. Since classical resources can determine the ultimate\nefficiency of the quantum algorithm, the optimal use of classical resources is\nmandatory.\nWe demonstrate how a classical computer may handle certain computations\n(e.g., time evolution) and feed these into the quantum circuit implementing the\nalgorithm. Thus, the classical and quantum resources for implementing the algorithm\nare described. Through a detailed analysis of the classical resources, we hope to\nunderstand how these resources may be optimized. This work can therefore\ncontribute to the design of efficient quantum algorithms.
Quantum computing, a prominent non-Von Neumann paradigm beyond Moore's law, can offer superpolynomial speedups for certain problems. Yet its advantages in efficiency for tasks like machine learning remain under investigation, and quantum noise complicates resource estimations and classical comparisons. We provide a detailed estimation of space, time, and energy resources for fault-tolerant superconducting devices running the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm, a quantum linear system solver relevant to linear algebra and machine learning. Excluding memory and data transfer, possible quantum advantages over the classical conjugate gradient method could emerge at N≈233∼248N \approx 2^{33} \sim 2^{48}N≈233∼248 or even lower, requiring O(105){O}(10^5)O(105) physical qubits, O(1012∼1013){O}(10^{12}\sim10^{13})O(1012∼1013) Joules, and O(106){O}(10^6)O(106) seconds under surface code fault-tolerance with three types of magic state distillation (15-1, 116-12, 225-1). Key parameters include condition number, sparsity, and precision κ,s≈O(10∼100)κ, s\approx{O}(10\sim100)κ,s≈O(10∼100), ε∼0.01ε\sim0.01ε∼0.01, and physical error 10−510^{-5}10−5. Our resource estimator adjusts N,κ,s,εN, κ, s, εN,κ,s,ε, providing a map of quantum-classical boundaries and revealing where a practical quantum advantage may arise. Our work quantitatively determine how advanced a fault-tolerant quantum computer should be to achieve possible, significant benefits on problems related to real-world.
Abstract Solving linear systems of equations is of vital importance in various fields of science. With the scale of calculation soaring, classical computers are intractable, and the advantage of quantum computing is reflected. Quantum algorithm has exponential acceleration in solving the linear systems A x ⃗ = b ⃗ for sparse and well-conditioned coefficient matrix A with dimension N × N . In this paper, we present a quantum algorithm to solve matrix equations of the form AX = B , where X = ( x ⃗ 1 , x ⃗ 2 , … , x ⃗ n ) , B = ( b ⃗ 1 , b ⃗ 2 , … , b ⃗ n ) , x ⃗ k and b ⃗ k are unit vectors. The problem can be intuitively treated as solving n linear systems simultaneously, which will needs O ( n log N ) complexity by the famous HHL algorithm. We demonstrate that in our algorithm the scale of complexity is O ( log n N ) . In the error analysis part, phase estimation is discussed in details.
Quantum algorithms are often represented in terms of quantum circuits operating on ideal (logical) qubits. However, the practical implementation of these algorithms poses significant challenges. Many quantum algorithms require a substantial number of logical qubits, and the inherent susceptibility to errors of quantum computers require quantum error correction. The integration of error correction introduces overhead in terms of both space (physical qubits required) and runtime (how long the algorithm needs to be run for). This paper addresses the complexity of comparing classical and quantum algorithms, primarily stemming from the additional quantum error correction overhead. We propose a comprehensive framework that facilitates a direct and meaningful comparison between classical and quantum algorithms. By acknowledging and addressing the challenges introduced by quantum error correction, our framework aims to provide a clearer understanding of the comparative performance of classical and quantum computing approaches. This work contributes to understanding the practical viability and potential advantages of quantum algorithms in real-world applications. We apply our framework to quantum cryptanalysis, since it is well known that quantum algorithms can break factoring and discrete logarithm based cryptography and weaken symmetric cryptography and hash functions. In order to estimate the real-world impact of these attacks, apart from tracking the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers it is important to have an estimate of the resources needed to implement these quantum attacks. This analysis provides state-of-the art snap-shot estimates of the realistic costs of implementing quantum attacks on these important cryptographic algorithms, assuming quantum fault-tolerance is achieved using surface code methods, and spanning a range of potential error rates. These estimates serve as a guide for gauging the realistic impact of these algorithms and for benchmarking the impact of future advances in quantum algorithms, circuit synthesis and optimization, fault-tolerance methods and physical error rates.
The Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) quantum algorithm for sampling from the solution of a linear system provides an exponential speed-up over its classical counterpart. The problem of solving a system of linear equations has a wide scope of applications, and thus HHL constitutes an important algorithmic primitive. In these notes, we present the HHL algorithm and its improved versions in detail, including explanations of the constituent sub- routines. More specifically, we discuss various quantum subroutines such as quantum phase estimation and amplitude amplification, as well as the important question of loading data into a quantum computer, via quantum RAM. The improvements to the original algorithm exploit variable-time amplitude amplification as well as a method for implementing linear combinations of unitary operations (LCUs) based on a decomposition of the operators using Fourier and Chebyshev series. Finally, we discuss a linear solver based on the quantum singular value estimation (QSVE) subroutine.
Quantum computing enables the efficient resolution of complex problems, often outperforming classical methods across various applications. In 2009, Harrow, Hassidim and Lloyd proposed an algorithm for solving linear systems of equations, demonstrating exponential speedup (under ideal conditions) with a complexity of poly(log⁡N)poly(\log N)poly(logN), in contrast to classical approaches, which in the general case exhibit a complexity of O(N3)O(N^3)O(N3), although they can achieve O(N)O(N)O(N) in specific cases involving sparse matrices. This algorithm holds promise for advancements in machine learning, the solution of differential equations, linear regression, and cryptographic analysis. However, its structure is intricate, and there is a notable lack of detailed instructional materials in the literature. In this context, this paper presents a tutorial addressing the physical and mathematical foundations of the HHL algorithm, aimed at undergraduate students, explaining its theoretical construction and its implementation for solving linear equation systems. After discussing the underlying mathematical and physical concepts, we present numerical examples that illustrate the evolution of the quantum circuit. Finally, the algorithm's complexity, limitations, and future prospects are analyzed. The examples are compared with their classical simulations, allowing for an operational assessment of the algorithm's performance.