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Main Authors: Mamedaliev, Ernesto, Libov, Vladyslav, Nieto-Morales, Albert, Słowik, Oskar, Bishwas, Arit Kumar
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.18812
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author Mamedaliev, Ernesto
Libov, Vladyslav
Nieto-Morales, Albert
Słowik, Oskar
Bishwas, Arit Kumar
author_facet Mamedaliev, Ernesto
Libov, Vladyslav
Nieto-Morales, Albert
Słowik, Oskar
Bishwas, Arit Kumar
contents Variational Quantum Algorithms (VQAs) are promising methods for solving combinatorial optimization problems on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. However, benchmarking VQAs is difficult due to their stochastic behavior and the lack of standardized performance criteria. This work introduces a general framework for evaluating VQAs applied to Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems. The framework uses three complementary metrics: feasibility, quality, and reproducibility. It also introduces a quality diagram that visualizes trade-offs between success probability and computational resources. Reproducibility is formalized using Shannon entropy, and a decision rule is defined for selecting algorithms under resource constraints. As a demonstration, the framework is applied to several VQAs using Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) cost functions and different shot counts on a 16-qubit QUBO instance. The results show how the framework supports systematic benchmarking and provides a foundation for adaptive algorithm selection in hybrid quantum-classical workflows.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_18812
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A framework to evaluate the performance of Variational Quantum Algorithms
Mamedaliev, Ernesto
Libov, Vladyslav
Nieto-Morales, Albert
Słowik, Oskar
Bishwas, Arit Kumar
Quantum Physics
Variational Quantum Algorithms (VQAs) are promising methods for solving combinatorial optimization problems on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. However, benchmarking VQAs is difficult due to their stochastic behavior and the lack of standardized performance criteria. This work introduces a general framework for evaluating VQAs applied to Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems. The framework uses three complementary metrics: feasibility, quality, and reproducibility. It also introduces a quality diagram that visualizes trade-offs between success probability and computational resources. Reproducibility is formalized using Shannon entropy, and a decision rule is defined for selecting algorithms under resource constraints. As a demonstration, the framework is applied to several VQAs using Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) cost functions and different shot counts on a 16-qubit QUBO instance. The results show how the framework supports systematic benchmarking and provides a foundation for adaptive algorithm selection in hybrid quantum-classical workflows.
title A framework to evaluate the performance of Variational Quantum Algorithms
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.18812