A deceptive step towards quantum speedup detection

Abstract

There have been multiple attempts to design synthetic benchmark problems with the goal of detecting quantum speedup in current quantum annealing machines. To date, classical heuristics have consistently outperformed quantum-annealing based approaches. Here we introduce a class of problems based on frustrated cluster loops -deceptive cluster loops -for which all currently known state-of-the-art classical heuristics are outperformed by the DW2000Q quantum annealing machine. While there is a sizable constant speedup over all known classical heuristics, a noticeable improvement in the scaling remains elusive. These results represent the first steps towards a detection of potential quantum speedup, albeit without a scaling improvement and for synthetic benchmark problems.

Analog errors in quantum annealing: doom and hope

“…While unlike the gate model adiabatic quantum evolution is inherently robust to path variations due to unitary control errors [11], there is as of yet no equivalent mechanism of error discretization or an analogous accuracy threshold theorem in this paradigm. Yet, at the same time quantum annealing offers a currently unparalleled opportunity to explore NISQ-era [12] quantum optimization with thousands of qubits [13,14]. It is thus of great importance to assess the role of analog control errors in QA, and to find ways to mitigate them.…”

Reverse quantum annealing approach to portfolio optimization problems

“…where t run is the running time elapsed for a single run (either τ for forward or 2τ + ρ for reverse), and p is the probability of finding the optimum of the objective function in that single shot [1,27].…”

Perspectives of quantum annealing: methods and implementations

“…In the case of quantum annealing, it has been common to use spin-glass-like Hamiltonians as benchmark problems with the resources measured being the time it takes to solve an ensemble of problems as a function of the size of the input (here, the number of variables). Most recently, it has been argued [50] that energy should be included in such metrics. In addition, careful definitions of speedup are needed between quantum and classical paradigms.…”