Solving mathematical problems with quantum computers

Colin P. Williams

László Gyöngyösi

Gate-model quantum computer architectures represent an implementable model used to realize quantum computations. The mathematical description of the dynamical attributes of adaptive problem solving and iterative objective function evaluation in a gate-model quantum computer is currently a challenge. Here, a mathematical model of adaptive problem solving dynamics in a gate-model quantum computer is defined. We characterize a canonical equation of adaptive objective function evaluation of computational problems. We study the stability of adaptive problem solving in gate-model quantum computers.

Vyacheslav Yu. Korolyov, Oleksandr Khodzinskyi

Introduction. Quantum computers provide several times faster solutions to several NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems in comparison with computing clusters. The trend of doubling the number of qubits of quantum computers every year suggests the existence of an analog of Moore's law for quantum computers, which means that soon they will also be able to get a significant acceleration of solving many applied large-scale problems. The purpose of the article is to review methods for creating algorithms of quantum computer mathematics for combinatorial optimization problems and to analyze the influence of the qubit-to-qubit coupling and connections strength on the performance of quantum data processing. Results. The article offers approaches to the classification of algorithms for solving these problems from the perspective of quantum computer mathematics. It is shown that the number and strength of connections between qubits affect the dimensionality of problems solved by algorithms of quantum computer mathematics. It is proposed to consider two approaches to calculating combinatorial optimization problems on quantum computers: universal, using quantum gates, and specialized, based on a parameterization of physical processes. Examples of constructing a half-adder for two qubits of an IBM quantum processor and an example of solving the problem of finding the maximum independent set for the IBM and D-wave quantum computers are given. Conclusions. Today, quantum computers are available online through cloud services for research and commercial use. At present, quantum processors do not have enough qubits to replace semiconductor computers in universal computing. The search for a solution to a combinatorial optimization problem is performed by achieving the minimum energy of the system of coupled qubits, on which the task is mapped, and the data are the initial conditions. Approaches to solving combinatorial optimization problems on quantum computers are considered and the results of solving the problem of finding the maximum independent set on the IBM and D-wave quantum computers are given. Keywords: quantum computer, quantum computer mathematics, qubit, maximal independent set for a graph.

Jamie Smith, Michele Mosca

Et al. Lalit Mohan Trivedi

The power of quantum mechanics, that is too complex for conventional computers, can be solved by an innovative model of computing known as quantum computing. Quantum algorithms can provide exponential speedups for some types of problems, such as many difficult mathematical ones. In this paper, we review some of the most important quantum algorithms for hard mathematical problems. When factoring large numbers, Shor's algorithm is orders of magnitude faster than any other known classical algorithm. The Grover's algorithm, which searches unsorted databases much more quickly than conventional algorithms, is then discussed.