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Quantum algorithms for learning graphs and beyond.

Ashley Montanaro, Changpeng Shao

Published Nov 17, 2020• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

We study the problem of learning an unknown graph provided via an oracle using a quantum algorithm. We consider three query models. In the first model (OR queries), the oracle returns whether a given subset of the vertices contains any edges. In the second (parity queries), the oracle returns the parity of the number of edges in a subset. In the third model, we are given copies of the graph state corresponding to the graph. We give quantum algorithms that achieve speedups over the best possible classical algorithms in the OR and parity query models, for some families of graphs, and give quantum algorithms in the graph state model whose complexity is similar to the parity query model. For some parameter regimes, the speedups can be exponential in the parity query model. On the other hand, without any promise on the graph, no speedup is possible in the OR query model. A main technique we use is the quantum algorithm for solving the combinatorial group testing problem, for which a query-efficient quantum algorithm was given by Belovs. Here we additionally give a time-efficient quantum algorithm for this problem, based on the algorithm of Ambainis et al. for a gapped version of the group testing problem. We also give simple time-efficient quantum algorithms based on Fourier sampling and amplitude amplification for learning the exact-half and majority functions, which almost match the optimal complexity of Belovs' algorithms.

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We study the problem of learning an unknown graph provided via an oracle using a quantum algorithm. We consider three query models. In the first model ("OR queries"), the oracle returns whether a given subset of the vertices contains any edges. In the second ("parity queries"), the oracle returns the parity of the number of edges in a subset. In the third model, we are given copies of the graph state corresponding to the graph. We give quantum algorithms that achieve speedups over the best possible classical algorithms in the OR and parity query models, for some families of graphs, and give quantum algorithms in the graph state model whose complexity is similar to the parity query model. For some parameter regimes, the speedups can be exponential in the parity query model. On the other hand, without any promise on the graph, no speedup is possible in the OR query model. A main technique we use is the quantum algorithm for solving the combinatorial group testing problem, for which a query-efficient quantum algorithm was given by Belovs. Here we additionally give a time-efficient quantum algorithm for this problem, based on the algorithm of Ambainis et al.\ for a "gapped" version of the group testing problem. We also give simple time-efficient quantum algorithms based on Fourier sampling and amplitude amplification for learning the exact-half and majority functions, which almost match the optimal complexity of Belovs' algorithms.

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In the search with wildcards problem [Ambainis, Montanaro, Quantum Inf.~Comput.'14], one's goal is to learn an unknown bit-string $x \in \{-1,1\}^n$. An algorithm may, at unit cost, test equality of any subset of the hidden string with a string of its choice. Ambainis and Montanaro showed a quantum algorithm of cost $O(\sqrt{n} \log n)$ and a near-matching lower bound of $Ω(\sqrt{n})$. Belovs [Comput.~Comp.'15] subsequently showed a tight $O(\sqrt{n})$ upper bound. We consider a natural generalization of this problem, parametrized by a subset $\cal{Q} \subseteq 2^{[n]}$, where an algorithm may test whether $x_S = b$ for an arbitrary $S \in \cal{Q}$ and $b \in \{-1,1\}^S$ of its choice, at unit cost. We show near-tight bounds when $\cal{Q}$ is any of the following collections: bounded-size sets, contiguous blocks, prefixes, and only the full set. All of these results are derived using a framework that we develop. Using symmetries of the task at hand we show that the quantum query complexity of learning $x$ is characterized, up to a constant factor, by an optimization program, which is succinctly described as follows: `maximize over all odd functions $f : \{-1,1\}^n \to \mathbb{R}$ the ratio of the maximum value of $f$ to the maximum (over $T \in \cal{Q}$) standard deviation of $f$ on a subcube whose free variables are exactly $T$.' To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first work to use the primal version of the negative-weight adversary bound (which is a maximization program typically used to show lower bounds) to show new quantum query upper bounds without explicitly resorting to SDP duality.

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Quantum Algorithms for Matrix Problems and Machine Learning

Sathyawageeswar Subramanian

This dissertation presents a study of quantum algorithms for problems that can be posed as matrix function tasks. In Chapter 1 we demonstrate a simple unifying framework for implementing of smooth functions of matrices on a quantum computer. This framework captures a variety of problems that can be solved by evaluating properties of some function of a matrix, and we identify speedups over classical algorithms for some problem classes. The analysis combines ideas from the classical theory of function approximation with the quantum algorithmic primitive of implementing linear combinations of unitary operators. In Chapter 2 we continue this study by looking at the role of sparsity of input matrices in constructing efficient quantum algorithms. We show that classically pre-processing an input matrix by spectral sparsification can be profitable for quantum Hamiltonian simulation algorithms, without compromising the simulation error or complexity. Such preprocessing incurs a one time cost linear in the size of the matrix, but can be exploited to exponentially speed up subsequent subroutines such as inversion. In Chapter 3, we give an application of this theory of matrix functions to the problem of estimating the Renyi entropy of an unknown quantum state. We combine matrix function techniques with mixed state quantum computation in the one-clean qubit model, and are able to bound of the expected runtime of our algorithm in terms of the unknown target quantity. In addition to the theme of analysing the complexity of our algorithms, we also identify instances that are of practical relevance, leading us to some problems of machine learning. In Chapter 4 we investigate kernel based learning methods using random features. We work with the QRAM input model suitable for big data, and show how matrix functions and the quantum Fourier transform can be used to devise a quantum algorithm for sampling random features that are optimised for given input data and choice of kernel. We obtain a potential exponential speedup over the best known classical algorithm even without explicit assumptions of sparsity or low rank. Finally in Chapter 5 we consider the technique of beamsearch decoding used in natural language processing. We work in the query model, and show how quantum search with advice can be used to construct a quantum search decoder that can find the optimal parse (which may for instance be a best translation, or text-to-speech transcript) at least quadratically faster than the best known classical algorithms, and obtain super-quadratic speedups in the expected runtime.

•Jul 24, 2020•0 citations
We study the problem of learning an unknown graph provided via an oracle using a quantum algorithm. We consider three query models. In the first model (OR queries), the oracle returns whether a given subset of the vertices contains any edges. In the second (parity queries), the oracle returns the parity of the number of edges in a subset. In the third model, we are given copies of the graph state corresponding to the graph.
We give quantum algorithms that achieve speedups over the best possible classical algorithms in the OR and parity query models, for some families of graphs, and give quantum algorithms in the graph state model whose complexity is similar to the parity query model. For some parameter regimes, the speedups can be exponential in the parity query model. On the other hand, without any promise on the graph, no speedup is possible in the OR query model.
A main technique we use is the quantum algorithm for solving the combinatorial group testing problem, for which a query-efficient quantum algorithm was given by Belovs. Here we additionally give a time-efficient quantum algorithm for this problem, based on the algorithm of Ambainis et al. for a gapped version of the group testing problem. We also give simple time-efficient quantum algorithms based on Fourier sampling and amplitude amplification for learning the exact-half and majority functions, which almost match the optimal complexity of Belovs' algorithms.
We study the problem of learning an unknown graph provided via an oracle using a quantum algorithm. We consider three query models. In the first model ("OR queries"), the oracle returns whether a given subset of the vertices contains any edges. In the second ("parity queries"), the oracle returns the parity of the number of edges in a subset. In the third model, we are given copies of the graph state corresponding to the graph. We give quantum algorithms that achieve speedups over the best possible classical algorithms in the OR and parity query models, for some families of graphs, and give quantum algorithms in the graph state model whose complexity is similar to the parity query model. For some parameter regimes, the speedups can be exponential in the parity query model. On the other hand, without any promise on the graph, no speedup is possible in the OR query model. A main technique we use is the quantum algorithm for solving the combinatorial group testing problem, for which a query-efficient quantum algorithm was given by Belovs. Here we additionally give a time-efficient quantum algorithm for this problem, based on the algorithm of Ambainis et al.\ for a "gapped" version of the group testing problem. We also give simple time-efficient quantum algorithms based on Fourier sampling and amplitude amplification for learning the exact-half and majority functions, which almost match the optimal complexity of Belovs' algorithms.
We are presented with a graph, GGG, on nnn vertices with mmm edges whose edge set is unknown. Our goal is to learn the edges of GGG with as few queries to an oracle as possible. When we submit a set SSS of vertices to the oracle, it tells us whether or not SSS induces at least one edge in GGG. This so-called OR-query model has been well studied, with Angluin and Chen giving an upper bound on the number of queries needed of O(mlog⁡n)O(m \log n)O(mlogn) for a general graph GGG with mmm edges. When we allow ourselves to make *quantum* queries (we may query subsets in superposition), then we can achieve speedups over the best possible classical algorithms. In the case where GGG has maximum degree ddd and is O(1)O(1)O(1)-colorable, Montanaro and Shao presented an algorithm that learns the edges of GGG in at most O~(d2m3/4)\tilde{O}(d^2m^{3/4})O~(d2m3/4) quantum queries. This gives an upper bound of O~(m3/4)\tilde{O}(m^{3/4})O~(m3/4) quantum queries when GGG is a matching or a Hamiltonian cycle, which is far away from the lower bound of Ω(m)Ω(\sqrt{m})Ω(m​) queries given by Ambainis and Montanaro. We improve on the work of Montanaro and Shao in the case where GGG has bounded degree. In particular, we present a randomized algorithm that, with high probability, learns cycles and matchings in O~(m)\tilde{O}(\sqrt{m})O~(m​) quantum queries, matching the theoretical lower bound up to logarithmic factors.
In the search with wildcards problem [Ambainis, Montanaro, Quantum Inf.~Comput.'14], one's goal is to learn an unknown bit-string x∈{−1,1}nx \in \{-1,1\}^nx∈{−1,1}n. An algorithm may, at unit cost, test equality of any subset of the hidden string with a string of its choice. Ambainis and Montanaro showed a quantum algorithm of cost O(nlog⁡n)O(\sqrt{n} \log n)O(n​logn) and a near-matching lower bound of Ω(n)Ω(\sqrt{n})Ω(n​). Belovs [Comput.~Comp.'15] subsequently showed a tight O(n)O(\sqrt{n})O(n​) upper bound. We consider a natural generalization of this problem, parametrized by a subset Q⊆2[n]\cal{Q} \subseteq 2^{[n]}Q⊆2[n], where an algorithm may test whether xS=bx_S = bxS​=b for an arbitrary S∈QS \in \cal{Q}S∈Q and b∈{−1,1}Sb \in \{-1,1\}^Sb∈{−1,1}S of its choice, at unit cost. We show near-tight bounds when Q\cal{Q}Q is any of the following collections: bounded-size sets, contiguous blocks, prefixes, and only the full set. All of these results are derived using a framework that we develop. Using symmetries of the task at hand we show that the quantum query complexity of learning xxx is characterized, up to a constant factor, by an optimization program, which is succinctly described as follows: `maximize over all odd functions f:{−1,1}n→Rf : \{-1,1\}^n \to \mathbb{R}f:{−1,1}n→R the ratio of the maximum value of fff to the maximum (over T∈QT \in \cal{Q}T∈Q) standard deviation of fff on a subcube whose free variables are exactly TTT.' To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first work to use the primal version of the negative-weight adversary bound (which is a maximization program typically used to show lower bounds) to show new quantum query upper bounds without explicitly resorting to SDP duality.
Let G be an n-vertex graph with m edges. When asked a subset S of vertices, a cut query on G returns the number of edges of G that have exactly one endpoint in S. We show that there is a bounded-error quantum algorithm that determines all connected components of G after making O(log(n)6) many cut queries. In contrast, it follows from results in communication complexity that any randomized algorithm even just to decide whether the graph is connected or not must make at least Ω(n/log(n)) many cut queries. We further show that with O(log(n)8) many cut queries a quantum algorithm can with high probability output a spanning forest for G. En route to proving these results, we design quantum algorithms for learning a graph using cut queries. We show that a quantum algorithm can learn a graph with maximum degree d after O(d log(n)2) many cut queries, and can learn a general graph with many cut queries. These two upper bounds are tight up to the poly-logarithmic factors, and compare to Ω(dn) and Ω(m/log(n)) lower bounds on the number of cut queries needed by a randomized algorithm for the same problems, respectively. The key ingredients in our results are the Bernstein-Vazirani algorithm, approximate counting with “OR queries”, and learning sparse vectors from inner products as in compressed sensing.
Graph partitioning is a fundamental problem in computer science with applications in diverse fields like network design, compiler optimization, and data analysis. Traditional algorithms for graph partitioning often suffer from computational complexity, particularly when dealing with large graphs. This paper explores the potential of utilizing quantum computing to accelerate graph partitioning. Specifically, we investigate the application of Grover's algorithm, a quantum search algorithm, to the problem. Our core claim is that by leveraging the superposition and interference capabilities inherent in quantum mechanics, a quantum solution can achieve a provable speedup compared to classical approaches. We present a theoretical framework outlining the algorithm's operation and derive the expected speedup. The key mathematical formulation involves representing the graph partitioning problem as an unstructured search problem amenable to Grover's algorithm. We define the problem as minimizing the cut size, represented by the objective function: *f(S) = Σi∈S Σj∈Sc d(i, j)* where *S* is a subset of vertices, *Sc* is the complement of *S* in the graph, and *d(i, j)* is the shortest path distance between vertices *i* and *j*. The algorithm then constructs a quantum oracle that maps the problem state to a superposition of all possible partitions. Grover's algorithm is then applied to amplify the amplitude of the solution state, resulting in a high probability of finding an optimal or near-optimal partition. The speedup is directly proportional to the square root of the number of iterations performed by Grover's algorithm, which is influenced by the problem size and the quality of the oracle. We analyze the complexity of the quantum algorithm and compare it to the complexity of the best-known classical algorithms, demonstrating a potential for significant speedup. Further research will focus on optimizing the oracle construction and exploring other quantum algorithms suitable for graph partitioning.
This dissertation presents a study of quantum algorithms for problems that can be posed as matrix function tasks. In Chapter 1 we demonstrate a simple unifying framework for implementing of smooth functions of matrices on a quantum computer. This framework captures a variety of problems that can be solved by evaluating properties of some function of a matrix, and we identify speedups over classical algorithms for some problem classes. The analysis combines ideas from the classical theory of function approximation with the quantum algorithmic primitive of implementing linear combinations of unitary operators. In Chapter 2 we continue this study by looking at the role of sparsity of input matrices in constructing efficient quantum algorithms. We show that classically pre-processing an input matrix by spectral sparsification can be profitable for quantum Hamiltonian simulation algorithms, without compromising the simulation error or complexity. Such preprocessing incurs a one time cost linear in the size of the matrix, but can be exploited to exponentially speed up subsequent subroutines such as inversion. In Chapter 3, we give an application of this theory of matrix functions to the problem of estimating the Renyi entropy of an unknown quantum state. We combine matrix function techniques with mixed state quantum computation in the one-clean qubit model, and are able to bound of the expected runtime of our algorithm in terms of the unknown target quantity. In addition to the theme of analysing the complexity of our algorithms, we also identify instances that are of practical relevance, leading us to some problems of machine learning. In Chapter 4 we investigate kernel based learning methods using random features. We work with the QRAM input model suitable for big data, and show how matrix functions and the quantum Fourier transform can be used to devise a quantum algorithm for sampling random features that are optimised for given input data and choice of kernel. We obtain a potential exponential speedup over the best known classical algorithm even without explicit assumptions of sparsity or low rank. Finally in Chapter 5 we consider the technique of beamsearch decoding used in natural language processing. We work in the query model, and show how quantum search with advice can be used to construct a quantum search decoder that can find the optimal parse (which may for instance be a best translation, or text-to-speech transcript) at least quadratically faster than the best known classical algorithms, and obtain super-quadratic speedups in the expected runtime.