Quantum approximate optimization algorithm for Bayesian network structure learning

Abstract

Bayesian network structure learning is an NP-hard problem that has been faced by a number of traditional approaches in recent decades. Currently, quantum technologies offer a wide range of advantages that can be exploited to solve optimization tasks that cannot be addressed in an efficient way when utilizing classic computing approaches. In this work, a specific type of variational quantum algorithm, the quantum approximate optimization algorithm, was used to solve the Bayesian network structure learning problem, by employing \(3n(n-1)/2\) qubits, where n is the number of nodes in the Bayesian network to be learned. Our results showed that the quantum approximate optimization algorithm approach offers competitive results with state-of-the-art methods and quantitative resilience to quantum noise. The approach was applied to a cancer benchmark problem, and the results justified the use of variational quantum algorithms for solving the Bayesian network structure learning problem.