From Hope to Heuristic: Realistic Runtime Estimates for Quantum Optimisation in NHEP

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Franz, Maja, Schönberger, Manuel, Strobl, Melvin, Kühn, Eileen, Streit, Achim, Zurita, Pía, Diefenthaler, Markus, Mauerer, Wolfgang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Franz, Maja
Schönberger, Manuel
Strobl, Melvin
Kühn, Eileen
Streit, Achim
Zurita, Pía
Diefenthaler, Markus
Mauerer, Wolfgang
author_facet Franz, Maja
Schönberger, Manuel
Strobl, Melvin
Kühn, Eileen
Streit, Achim
Zurita, Pía
Diefenthaler, Markus
Mauerer, Wolfgang
contents Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) computers, despite their limitations, present opportunities for near-term quantum advantages in Nuclear and High-Energy Physics (NHEP) when paired with specially designed quantum algorithms and processing units. This study focuses on core algorithms that solve optimisation problems through the quadratic Ising or quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation model, specifically quantum annealing and the Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm (QAOA). In particular, we estimate runtimes and scalability for the task of particle track reconstruction, a key computing challenge in NHEP, and investigate how the classical parameter space in QAOA, along with techniques like a Fourier-analysis based heuristic, can facilitate future quantum advantages. The findings indicate that lower frequency components in the parameter space are crucial for effective annealing schedules, suggesting that heuristics can improve resource efficiency while achieving near-optimal results. Overall, the study highlights the potential of NISQ computers in NHEP and the significance of co-design approaches and heuristic techniques in overcoming challenges in quantum algorithms.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_05066
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle From Hope to Heuristic: Realistic Runtime Estimates for Quantum Optimisation in NHEP
Franz, Maja
Schönberger, Manuel
Strobl, Melvin
Kühn, Eileen
Streit, Achim
Zurita, Pía
Diefenthaler, Markus
Mauerer, Wolfgang
Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Experiment
Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) computers, despite their limitations, present opportunities for near-term quantum advantages in Nuclear and High-Energy Physics (NHEP) when paired with specially designed quantum algorithms and processing units. This study focuses on core algorithms that solve optimisation problems through the quadratic Ising or quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation model, specifically quantum annealing and the Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm (QAOA). In particular, we estimate runtimes and scalability for the task of particle track reconstruction, a key computing challenge in NHEP, and investigate how the classical parameter space in QAOA, along with techniques like a Fourier-analysis based heuristic, can facilitate future quantum advantages. The findings indicate that lower frequency components in the parameter space are crucial for effective annealing schedules, suggesting that heuristics can improve resource efficiency while achieving near-optimal results. Overall, the study highlights the potential of NISQ computers in NHEP and the significance of co-design approaches and heuristic techniques in overcoming challenges in quantum algorithms.
title From Hope to Heuristic: Realistic Runtime Estimates for Quantum Optimisation in NHEP
topic Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Experiment
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.05066