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Quantum image processing algorithm using edge extraction based on Kirsch operator

Pengao Xu, Zhenxing He, Tianhui Qiu, Hongyang Ma

Published Apr 6, 2020• 51 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this work, a quantum image processing algorithm is developed using the edge extraction method together with the Kirsch operator. In our approach, novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) is employed as the image representation model for processing quantum image, which generates results of edge extraction using the Kirsch operator. The proposed algorithm can perform real-time image processing with high accuracy. We carry out the design, analyses, and simulations of quantum circuits based on our approach, which shows that the image processing speed and acuracy are much better than the classical edge extraction algorithms.

DOI
10.1364/oe.386283

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•Jun 5, 2025•1 citation
In this work, a quantum image processing algorithm is developed using the edge extraction method together with the Kirsch operator. In our approach, novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) is employed as the image representation model for processing quantum image, which generates results of edge extraction using the Kirsch operator. The proposed algorithm can perform real-time image processing with high accuracy. We carry out the design, analyses, and simulations of quantum circuits based on our approach, which shows that the image processing speed and acuracy are much better than the classical edge extraction algorithms.
Abstract With the increase in the quantity and quality of images that need to be processed, there are higher requirements for the speed of image processing. Thus, it is necessary to speed-up the image processing algorithms. In this paper, we design a quantum image edge detection algorithm based on Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) operator, which has significant acceleration due to the quantum parallelism. Firstly, the quantum circuit of the novel enhanced quantum image representation (NEQR) model is improved to represent multiple quantum images simultaneously with lower time complexity. Secondly, the quantum subtractor and quantum comparator are optimized. Thirdly, quantum adder, quantum multiplier, quantum comparator, and quantum subtractor are adopted to design the quantum circuit of LoG operator and zero-crossing detector, which constitute the quantum edge detection algorithm. Finally, the algorithm is simulated on the IBM Quantum Experience (IBM Q) platform to verify its feasibility. Compared with the existing state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed quantum image edge detection algorithm has significant improvement in time complexity.
Quantum image processing is a system where both quantum computing and image processings are key. Now it is required to investigate how to apply image processing concepts such as image edge detection and improved Sobel operator, to quantum image processing. Just as traditional image processing helps to image manipulation, our efforts in quantum image processing contribute to the further development of quantum algorithm and quantum information theory. Edge detection is an important problem in traditional image processing, and image edge detection algorithm can filter image edge features and retain important attributes. We proposed a quantum edge detection algorithm, which employs improved Sobel operator to improve the performance, so as to solve the problem of unsatisfactory traditional image edge detection methods. In practical application, the amount of image data to be processed increases sharply, and the computing power of classical computer becomes a limitation. Quantum information processing can effectively accelerate many classical problems by virtue of quantum mechanical characteristics, such as quantum superposition, entanglement, parallelism. Our proposed method uses the novel enhanced quantum representation to store quantum images, which stores all the pixels in the image in a superimposed state, realizing parallel computation. The improved eight-direction Sobel operator is used to calculate the gray gradient, and the quantum circuit is designed to realize quantum edge detection. Simulation results have shown that our algorithm can extract edge with dimension 2n× 2nwhen the computational complexity is O(n2+ 2q+3). The improved algorithm can detect more edge details and has strong adaptability.
This work introduces a novel quantum algorithm for gradient-based edge detection that operates entirely within the quantum circuit model. Grayscale images are encoded using the Novel Enhanced Quantum Representation (NEQR), allowing exact arithmetic on pixel intensities. Directional gradients are computed by generating superpositions of neighboring pixels via cyclic shift operations and performing subtraction with an exact quantum arithmetic circuit. To refine accuracy, we introduce a direction-aware shifting mechanism that aligns edges with the darker side of intensity transitions. Our novel Quantum Partitioning Algorithm enables efficient in-place thresholding of edge candidates. This work exhibits polynomial-time improvements and optimizes the ancilla count compared to previous NEQR-based quantum edge detection algorithms. These results demonstrate a resource-efficient and fully quantum approach to edge detection, highlighting a practical quantum advantage in image processing.
Line detection is a fundamental technique in image processing. It can extract the required information, while the information that does not need attention can be ignored, thus reducing the amount of data. At the same time, line detection is also the basis of image segmentation and plays an important role in this process. In this paper, we implement a quantum algorithm based on a line detection mask for novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR). We build a quantum algorithm for line detection in different directions and design a quantum circuit for line detection. The detailed module designed is also provided. On a classical computer, we simulate the quantum method, and the simulation results prove the feasibility of the quantum method. By analyzing the complexity of quantum line detection, we find that the computation complexity of the proposed method is improved compared to some similar edge detection algorithms.
Abstract To further enhance the study of quantum image edge extraction algorithms, this paper proposes a color quantum image edge extraction algorithm based on an order of color vectors. The algorithm utilizes the NCQI (novel quantum representation of color digital images) model, which allows for fine processing of the color information in the image simultaneously. Our scheme extracts the edges of the color quantum image through operations such as cyclic shifts, color vectors ordering, dilation and erosion, and presents a complete quantum circuit. Finally, the complexity of the complete quantum circuit is calculated based on the quantum modules used, and simulation experimental results on classical computers are provided. Compared to all classical digital image edge extraction algorithms, our scheme can achieve exponential acceleration.
The proposed study investigates the use of the Novel Enhanced Quantum Representation (NEQR) in Quantum picture Processing (QIP) for image processing. It focusses on the way the FREI-CHEN edge detection operator, which is an enhanced Prewitt operator, behaves on quantum images. The Frei-Chen operator improves edge identification more precisely than the Prewitt operator, Sobel operator and Kirsch operator. The work shows significant improvements by applying the Frei-Chen operator on quantum-converted pictures, obtaining a Mean Square Error (MSE) of about 19.4932 and a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of around 35.4453 dB.