Closing the Quantum-Classical Scaling Gap in Approximate Optimization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Pawlowski, J., Tarasiuk, P., Tuziemski, J., Pawela, L., Gardas, B.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Pawlowski, J.
Tarasiuk, P.
Tuziemski, J.
Pawela, L.
Gardas, B.
author_facet Pawlowski, J.
Tarasiuk, P.
Tuziemski, J.
Pawela, L.
Gardas, B.
contents In a recent study (Ref. [1]), quantum annealing was reported to exhibit a scaling advantage for approximately solving Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO). However, this claim critically depends on the choice of classical reference algorithm -- Parallel Tempering with Isoenergetic Cluster Moves (PT-ICM). Here, we reassess these findings with different classical paradigm -- Simulated Bifurcation Machine (SBM) -- that harnesses nonlinear Hamiltonian dynamics. By leveraging chaotic behavior rather than thermal fluctuations, SBM achieves comparable or superior scaling performance, effectively closing the previously reported quantum-classical gap. We show that small problem sizes analyzed in [1] are insufficient for inferring asymptotic scaling, due to sensitivity to runtime and hardware-specific factors. By extending the benchmark to larger instances -- beyond current quantum annealing capabilities -- we establish strong classical scaling behavior. And as a result, we conclude that it is unlikely that current generation of quantum annealers, can demonstrate supremacy in discrete approximate optimization under operationally meaningful conditions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_22514
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Closing the Quantum-Classical Scaling Gap in Approximate Optimization
Pawlowski, J.
Tarasiuk, P.
Tuziemski, J.
Pawela, L.
Gardas, B.
Quantum Physics
Computational Physics
In a recent study (Ref. [1]), quantum annealing was reported to exhibit a scaling advantage for approximately solving Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO). However, this claim critically depends on the choice of classical reference algorithm -- Parallel Tempering with Isoenergetic Cluster Moves (PT-ICM). Here, we reassess these findings with different classical paradigm -- Simulated Bifurcation Machine (SBM) -- that harnesses nonlinear Hamiltonian dynamics. By leveraging chaotic behavior rather than thermal fluctuations, SBM achieves comparable or superior scaling performance, effectively closing the previously reported quantum-classical gap. We show that small problem sizes analyzed in [1] are insufficient for inferring asymptotic scaling, due to sensitivity to runtime and hardware-specific factors. By extending the benchmark to larger instances -- beyond current quantum annealing capabilities -- we establish strong classical scaling behavior. And as a result, we conclude that it is unlikely that current generation of quantum annealers, can demonstrate supremacy in discrete approximate optimization under operationally meaningful conditions.
title Closing the Quantum-Classical Scaling Gap in Approximate Optimization
topic Quantum Physics
Computational Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.22514