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International Conference on Algorithms, Network, and Communication Technology (ICANCT)

Three quantum neural network architectures for multiclass image classification

Guoxin Qu, Xianglong Yu, Zhimin Wang, Yongjian Gu

Published Mar 3, 2025• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum neural networks (QNNs) integrate the advantages of quantum information with the formidable capabilities of classical neural networks, exhibiting notable potential in image classification tasks. However, the performance of current QNNs in processing multi-class image classification tasks still leaves room for improvement. In this paper, we propose three QNN architectures to enhance the accuracy of multi-class image classification by utilizing techniques of overparameterization, dense pooling, and local feature extraction. These networks are capable of mapping conventional data to the amplitudes of quantum states via amplitude encoding, eschewing the need for traditional dimensionality reduction techniques. Following processing with parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs), we conduct quantum measurements to extract feature information. We validate the proposed architectures using the MNIST dataset for eight-class image classification problems. The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate that the three techniques we employed significantly enhance the accuracy of QNNs in multi-class image classification tasks.

DOI
10.1117/12.3060077

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Quantum neural networks (QNNs) integrate the advantages of quantum information with the formidable capabilities of classical neural networks, exhibiting notable potential in image classification tasks. However, the performance of current QNNs in processing multi-class image classification tasks still leaves room for improvement. In this paper, we propose three QNN architectures to enhance the accuracy of multi-class image classification by utilizing techniques of overparameterization, dense pooling, and local feature extraction. These networks are capable of mapping conventional data to the amplitudes of quantum states via amplitude encoding, eschewing the need for traditional dimensionality reduction techniques. Following processing with parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs), we conduct quantum measurements to extract feature information. We validate the proposed architectures using the MNIST dataset for eight-class image classification problems. The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate that the three techniques we employed significantly enhance the accuracy of QNNs in multi-class image classification tasks.
In this paper, we present a novel quantum neural network (QNN) algorithm enhanced with transfer learning to perform multi-class image classification. The proposed QNN extracts quantum image encoding measurements through the quantum state tomography framework and passes the sampled features through the classical neural network architecture to the proposed learnable parameterized quantum circuit (PQC) followed by gradient update via quantum backpropagation. We benchmark three different PQCs to demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms similar classical CNN architecture in test accuracy on CIFAR10 and MNIST datasets. Present results more prominently establish the success of PQC designs which will be further used in the design of 2D quantum convolutional neural network (QCNN).
Image classification is a fundamental task in deep learning, and recent advances in quantum computing have generated significant interest in quantum neural networks. Traditionally, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are employed to extract image features, while Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) handle decision making. However, parameterized quantum circuits offer the potential to capture complex image features and define sophisticated decision boundaries. In this paper, we present a novel Hybrid Quantum–Classical Neural Network (H-QNN) for image classification, and demonstrate its effectiveness using the MNIST dataset. Our model combines quantum computing with classical supervised learning to enhance classification accuracy and computational efficiency. In this study, we detail the architecture of the H-QNN, emphasizing its capability in feature learning and image classification. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed H-QNN model outperforms conventional deep learning methods in various training scenarios, showcasing its effectiveness in high-dimensional image classification tasks. Additionally, we explore the broader applicability of hybrid quantum–classical approaches in other domains. Our findings contribute to the growing body of work in quantum machine learning, and underscore the potential of quantum-enhanced models for image recognition and classification.
Abstract Hybrid quantum-classical neural networks (QCNNs) integrate principles from quantum computing principle and classical neural networks, offering a novel computational approach for image classification tasks. However, current QCNNs with sequential structures encounter limitations in accuracy and robustness, especially when dealing with tasks involving numerous classes. In this study, we propose a novel solution - the hybrid Parallel Quantum Classical Neural Network (PQCNN) - for image classification tasks. This architecture seamlessly integrates the parallel processing capabilities of quantum computing with the hierarchical feature extraction abilities of classical neural networks, aiming to overcome the constraints of conventional sequential structures in multi-class classification tasks. Extensive experimentation demonstrates the superiority of PQCNN over traditional concatenative structures in binary classification datasets, displaying heightened accuracy and robustness against noise. Particularly noteworthy is PQCNN's significantly improved accuracy on datasets with 5 and 10 classes. These findings underscore the transformative potential of the PQCNN architecture as an advanced solution for enhancing the performance of quantum-classical-based classifiers, particularly in the domain of image classification.
Quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs) typically consist of quantum encoding, convolution, and pooling layers. However, existing QCNNs for image classification still face two major limitations. Most encoding layers rely on single-parameter angle encoding, which limits their ability to represent complex image features. Many circuit architectures are relatively deep, increasing cir cuit complexity and noise accumulation and thus hindering implementation on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. To address these issues, this paper proposes a low-depth three-parameter encoding quantum convolutional neural network (LTP-QCNN) for image classification. The model employs a three parameter angle encoding layer that maps compressed image features onto the rotation angles of single-qubit gates. A first low-depth quantum convolutional layer is employed to extract local features, followed by a quantum pooling layer for quantum-state dimensionality reduction and information fusion. The pooled quantum states are then processed by a second quantum convolutional layer to extract discriminative features. Finally, the measured quantum feature vector is input into a classical classification layer to produce the final prediction. Simulation experiments were conducted on the Fashion-MNIST, MNIST, and KMNIST benchmark datasets. On Fashion-MNIST, LTP-QCNN achieved an accuracy of 99.85% on binary classification, while the accuracies for five-class and six class tasks reached 90.98% and 89.48%, respectively. The results demonstrate that LTP-QCNN achieves effective and stable image classification under limited quantum resources.
Image classification is a fundamental task in computer vision that involves assigning labels to images based on their content. In recent years, deep learning techniques based on classical neural networks (CNN) have achieved modern performance on many image classification tasks. However, there is growing interest in using quantum neural networks (QNNs) for image classification, as quantum computing has the potential to improve the accuracy and speed of computation. We demonstrate the potential of our QNN model and QCNN model by applying it to the fashion MNIST dataset. The results indicate that the QNN model exhibits faster training speed and higher testing set accuracy compared to a QCNN with a similar architecture.
Abstract Image classification is a fundamental problem in computer vision, and neural networks provide an effective solution. With the advancement of quantum technology, quantum neural networks have attracted a lot of attention. However, they are only suitable for low-dimensional data and require dimensionality reduction and quantum encoding. Two image classification methods have recently emerged: one employs PCA for dimensionality reduction and angular encoding, and the other integrates QNN into a CNN to improve performance. Despite numerous algorithms, the differences between them remain unclear. This study explores these algorithms’ performance in multi-class image classification and proposes an optimized hybrid quantum neural network suitable for the current environment. As the number of classes increases, research on PCA-based quantum algorithms reveals the barren plateau problem of QNN, which is not suitable for multiple classes in a hybrid setting. Our proposed model combining traditional CNN with QNN addresses QNN’s multi-class training difficulties to some extent and achieves satisfactory classification results. Nevertheless, its accuracy remains below that of the top-performing CNN models. Furthermore, we investigate transfer learning in hybrid quantum neural network models and assess the performance of our models on the quantum hardware from IBM. In conclusion, quantum neural networks show promise but require further research and optimization, facing challenges ahead.