Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-time Research Articles

Effects of quantum resources and noise on the statistical complexity of quantum circuits

We investigate how the addition of quantum resources changes the statistical complexity of quantum circuits by utilizing the framework of quantum resource theories. Measures of statistical complexity that we consider include the Rademacher complexity and the Gaussian complexity, which are well-known measures in computational learning theory that quantify the richness of classes of real-valued functions. We derive bounds for the statistical complexities of quantum circuits that have limited access to certain resources and apply our results to two special cases: (a) stabilizer circuits that are supplemented with a limited number of T gates and (b) instantaneous quantum polynomial-time Clifford circuits that are supplemented with a limited number of CCZ gates. We show that the increase in the statistical complexity of a quantum circuit when an additional quantum channel is added to it is upper bounded by the free robustness of the added channel. Moreover, as noise in quantum systems is a major obstacle to implementing many quantum algorithms on large quantum circuits, we also study the effects of noise on the Rademacher complexity of quantum circuits. Finally, we derive bounds for the generalization error associated with learning from training data arising from quantum circuits.

Principle of majorization: Application to random quantum circuits

We test the principle of majorization [J. I. Latorre and M. A. Martin-Delgado, Phys. Rev. A 66, 022305 (2002)] in random circuits. Three classes of circuits were considered: (i) universal, (ii) classically simulatable, and (iii) neither universal nor classically simulatable. The studied families are: {CNOT, H, T}, {CNOT, H, NOT}, {CNOT, H, S} (Clifford), matchgates, and IQP (instantaneous quantum polynomial-time). We verified that all the families of circuits satisfy on average the principle of decreasing majorization. In most cases the asymptotic state (number of gates going to infinity) behaves like a random vector. However, clear differences appear in the fluctuations of the Lorenz curves associated to asymptotic states. The fluctuations of the Lorenz curves discriminate between universal and non-universal classes of random quantum circuits, and they also detect the complexity of some non-universal but not classically efficiently simulatable quantum random circuits. We conclude that majorization can be used as a indicator of complexity of quantum dynamics, as an alternative to, e.g., entanglement spectrum and out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs).

How many qubits are needed for quantum computational supremacy?

Quantum computational supremacy arguments, which describe a way for a quantum computer to perform a task that cannot also be done by a classical computer, typically require some sort of computational assumption related to the limitations of classical computation. One common assumption is that the polynomial hierarchy (PH) does not collapse, a stronger version of the statement thatP≠NP, which leads to the conclusion that any classical simulation of certain families of quantum circuits requires time scaling worse than any polynomial in the size of the circuits. However, the asymptotic nature of this conclusion prevents us from calculating exactly how many qubits these quantum circuits must have for their classical simulation to be intractable on modern classical supercomputers. We refine these quantum computational supremacy arguments and perform such a calculation by imposing fine-grained versions of the non-collapse conjecture. Our first two conjectures poly3-NSETH(a) and per-int-NSETH(b) take specific classical counting problems related to the number of zeros of a degree-3 polynomial innvariables overF2or the permanent of ann×ninteger-valued matrix, and assert that any non-deterministic algorithm that solves them requires2cntime steps, wherec∈{a,b}. A third conjecture poly3-ave-SBSETH(a′) asserts a similar statement about average-case algorithms living in the exponential-time version of the complexity classSBP. We analyze evidence for these conjectures and argue that they are plausible whena=1/2,b=0.999anda′=1/2.Imposing poly3-NSETH(1/2) and per-int-NSETH(0.999), and assuming that the runtime of a hypothetical quantum circuit simulation algorithm would scale linearly with the number of gates/constraints/optical elements, we conclude that Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-Time (IQP) circuits with 208 qubits and 500 gates, Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) circuits with 420 qubits and 500 constraints and boson sampling circuits (i.e. linear optical networks) with 98 photons and 500 optical elements are large enough for the task of producing samples from their output distributions up to constant multiplicative error to be intractable on current technology. Imposing poly3-ave-SBSETH(1/2), we additionally rule out simulations with constant additive error for IQP and QAOA circuits of the same size. Without the assumption of linearly increasing simulation time, we can make analogous statements for circuits with slightly fewer qubits but requiring104to107gates.

Methods for classically simulating noisy networked quantum architectures

As research on building scalable quantum computers advances, it is important to be able to certify their correctness. Due to the exponential hardness of classically simulating quantum computation, straight-forward verification through classical simulation fails. However, we can classically simulate small scale quantum computations and hence we are able to test that devices behave as expected in this domain. This constitutes the first step towards obtaining confidence in the anticipated quantum-advantage when we extend to scales that can no longer be simulated. Realistic devices have restrictions due to their architecture and limitations due to physical imperfections and noise. Here we extend the usual ideal simulations by considering those effects. We provide a general methodology for constructing realistic simulations emulating the physical system which will both provide a benchmark for realistic devices, and guide experimental research in the quest for quantum-advantage. We exemplify our methodology by simulating a networked architecture and corresponding noise-model; in particular that of the device developed in the Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub (NQIT) (Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub 2018 https://nqit.ox.ac.uk/; 2016 private communication. The error model was based on communication with Chris Balance and Tom Harty, mediated through Niel de Beaudrap, early on the NQIT project. Continued collaboration and communication with experimentalists could lead in refinement of the error model, which could be subject for future work.). For our simulations we use, with suitable modification, the classical simulator of Bravyi and Gosset 2016 (Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 250501). The specific problems considered belong to the class of instantaneous quantum polynomial-time (IQP) problems (Shepherd and Bremner 2009 Proc. R. Soc. A 465 141339), a class believed to be hard for classical computing devices, and to be a promising candidate for the first demonstration of quantum-advantage. We first consider a subclass of IQP, defined in Bermejo-Vega et al 2018 (Phys. Rev. X 8 021010), involving two-dimensional dynamical quantum simulators, before moving to more general instances of IQP, but which are still restricted to the architecture of NQIT.

Efficient Classical Simulation of Clifford Circuits with Nonstabilizer Input States.

We investigate the problem of evaluating the output probabilities of Clifford circuits with nonstabilizer product input states. First, we consider the case when the input state is mixed, and give an efficient classical algorithm to approximate the output probabilities, with respect to the l_{1} norm, of a large fraction of Clifford circuits. The running time of our algorithm decreases as the inputs become more mixed. Second, we consider the case when the input state is a pure nonstabilizer product state, and show that a similar efficient algorithm exists to approximate the output probabilities, when a suitable restriction is placed on the number of qubits measured. This restriction depends on a magic monotone that we call the Pauli rank. We apply our results to give an efficient output probability approximation algorithm for some restricted quantum computation models, such as Clifford circuits with solely magic state inputs, Pauli-based computation, and instantaneous quantum polynomial time circuits. Finally, we discuss the relationship between Pauli rank and stabilizer rank.

Verifying commuting quantum computations via fidelity estimation of weighted graph states

The instantaneous quantum polynomial time (IQP) model is one of promising models to demonstrate a quantum computational advantage over classical computers. If the IQP model can be efficiently simulated by a classical computer, an unlikely consequence in computer science can be obtained (under some unproven conjectures). In order to experimentally demonstrate the advantage using medium or large-scale IQP circuits, it is inevitable to efficiently verify whether the constructed IQP circuits faithfully work. There exist two types of IQP models, each of which is the sampling on hypergraph states or weighted graph states. For the first-type IQP model, polynomial-time verification protocols have already been proposed. In this paper, we propose verification protocols for the second-type IQP model. To this end, we propose polynomial-time fidelity estimation protocols of weighted graph states for each of the following four situations where a verifier can (i) choose any measurement basis and perform adaptive measurements, (ii) only choose restricted measurement bases and perform adaptive measurements, (iii) choose any measurement basis and only perform non-adaptive measurements, and (iv) only choose restricted measurement bases and only perform non-adaptive measurements. In all of our verification protocols, the verifier’s quantum operations are only single-qubit measurements. Since we assume no independent and identically distributed property on quantum states, our protocols work in any situation.

Nonadaptive fault-tolerant verification of quantum supremacy with noise

Quantum samplers are believed capable of sampling efficiently from distributions that are classically hard to sample from. We consider a sampler inspired by the classical Ising model. It is nonadaptive and therefore experimentally amenable. Under a plausible conjecture, classical sampling upto additive errors from this model is known to be hard. We present a trap-based verification scheme for quantum supremacy that only requires the verifier to prepare single-qubit states. The verification is done on the same model as the original sampler, a square lattice, with only a constant overhead. We next revamp our verification scheme in two distinct ways using fault tolerance that preserves the nonadaptivity. The first has a lower overhead based on error correction with the same threshold as universal quantum computation. The second has a higher overhead but an improved threshold (1.97%) based on error detection. We show that classically sampling upto additive errors is likely hard in both these schemes. Our results are applicable to other sampling problems such as the Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-time (IQP) computation model. They should also assist near-term attempts at experimentally demonstrating quantum supremacy and guide long-term ones.

Operational Algorithms for Separable Qubit X States

This work motivates and applies operational methodology to simulation of quantum statistics of separable qubit X states. Three operational algorithms for evaluating separability probability distributions are put forward. Building on previous findings, the volume function characterizing the separability distribution is determined via quantum measurements of multi-qubit observables. Three measuring states, one for each algorithm are generated via (i) a multi-qubit channel map, (ii) a unitary operator generated by a Hamiltonian describing a non-uniform hypergraph configuration of interactions among 12 qubits, and (iii) a quantum walk CP map in a extended state space. Higher order CZ gates are the only tools of the algorithms hence the work associates itself computationally with the Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-time Circuits (IQP), while wrt possible implementation the work relates to the Lechner-Hauke-Zoller (LHZ) architecture of higher order coupling. Finally some uncertainty aspects of the quantum measurement observables are discussed together with possible extensions to non-qubit separable bipartite systems.

On statistically-secure quantum homomorphic encryption

Homomorphic encryption is an encryption scheme that allows computations to be evaluated on encrypted inputs without knowledge of their raw messages. Recently Ouyang et al. constructed a quantum homomorphic encryption (QHE) scheme for Clifford circuits with statistical security (or information-theoretic security (IT-security)). It is desired to see whether an information-theoretically-secure (ITS) quantum FHE exists. If not, what other nontrivial class of quantum circuits can be homomorphically evaluated with IT-security? We provide a limitation for the first question that an ITS quantum FHE necessarily incurs exponential overhead. As for the second one, we propose a QHE scheme for the instantaneous quantum polynomial-time (IQP) circuits. Our QHE scheme for IQP circuits follows from the one-time pad.

Verification of Many-Qubit States

Verification is a task to check whether a given quantum state is close to an ideal state or not. In this paper, we show that a variety of many-qubit quantum states can be verified with only sequential single-qubit measurements of Pauli operators. First, we introduce a protocol for verifying ground states of Hamiltonians. We next explain how to verify quantum states generated by a certain class of quantum circuits. We finally propose an adaptive test of stabilizers that enables the verification of all polynomial-time-generated hypergraph states, which include output states of the Bremner-Montanaro-Shepherd-type instantaneous quantum polynomial time (IQP) circuits. Importantly, we do not make any assumption that the identically and independently distributed copies of the same states are given: Our protocols work even if some highly complicated entanglement is created among copies in any artificial way. As applications, we consider the verification of the quantum computational supremacy demonstration with IQP models, and verifiable blind quantum computing.

Achieving quantum supremacy with sparse and noisy commuting quantum computations

The class of commuting quantum circuits known as IQP (instantaneous quantum polynomial-time) has been shown to be hard to simulate classically, assuming certain complexity-theoretic conjectures. Here we study the power of IQP circuits in the presence of physically motivated constraints. First, we show that there is a family of sparse IQP circuits that can be implemented on a square lattice of n qubits in depth O(sqrt(n) log n), and which is likely hard to simulate classically. Next, we show that, if an arbitrarily small constant amount of noise is applied to each qubit at the end of any IQP circuit whose output probability distribution is sufficiently anticoncentrated, there is a polynomial-time classical algorithm that simulates sampling from the resulting distribution, up to constant accuracy in total variation distance. However, we show that purely classical error-correction techniques can be used to design IQP circuits which remain hard to simulate classically, even in the presence of arbitrary amounts of noise of this form. These results demonstrate the challenges faced by experiments designed to demonstrate quantum supremacy over classical computation, and how these challenges can be overcome.

Quantum sampling problems, BosonSampling and quantum supremacy

There is a large body of evidence for the potential of greater computational power using information carriers that are quantum mechanical over those governed by the laws of classical mechanics. But the question of the exact nature of the power contributed by quantum mechanics remains only partially answered. Furthermore, there exists doubt over the practicality of achieving a large enough quantum computation that definitively demonstrates quantum supremacy. Recently the study of computational problems that produce samples from probability distributions has added to both our understanding of the power of quantum algorithms and lowered the requirements for demonstration of fast quantum algorithms. The proposed quantum sampling problems do not require a quantum computer capable of universal operations and also permit physically realistic errors in their operation. This is an encouraging step towards an experimental demonstration of quantum algorithmic supremacy. In this paper, we will review sampling problems and the arguments that have been used to deduce when sampling problems are hard for classical computers to simulate. Two classes of quantum sampling problems that demonstrate the supremacy of quantum algorithms are BosonSampling and Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-time Sampling. We will present the details of these classes and recent experimental progress towards demonstrating quantum supremacy in BosonSampling.

Commuting quantum circuits and complexity of Ising partition functions

Instantaneous quantum polynomial-time (IQP) computation is a class of quantum computation consisting only of commuting two-qubit gates and is not universal. Nevertheless, it has been shown that if there is a classical algorithm that can simulate IQP efficiently, the polynomial hierarchy collapses to the third level, which is highly implausible. However, the origin of the classical intractability is still less understood. Here we establish a relationship between IQP and computational complexity of calculating the imaginary-valued partition functions of Ising models. We apply the established relationship in two opposite directions. One direction is to find subclasses of IQP that are classically efficiently simulatable by using exact solvability of certain types of Ising models. Another direction is applying quantum computational complexity of IQP to investigate (im)possibility of efficient classical approximations of Ising partition functions with imaginary coupling constants. Specifically, we show that a multiplicative approximation of Ising partition functions is #P-hard for almost all imaginary coupling constants even on planar lattices of a bounded degree.

Ancilla-driven instantaneous quantum polynomial time circuit for quantum supremacy

Instantaneous quantum polynomial time (IQP) is a model of (probably) non-universal quantum computation. Since it has been proven that IQP circuits are unlikely to be simulated classically up to a multiplicative error and an error in the $l_1$ norm, IQP is considered as one of the promising classes that demonstrates quantum supremacy. Although IQP circuits can be realized more easily than a universal quantum computer, demonstrating quantum supremacy is still difficult. It is therefore desired to find subclasses of IQP that are easy to implement. In this paper, by imposing some restrictions on IQP, we propose ancilla-driven IQP (ADIQP) as the subclass of commuting quantum computation suitable for many experimental settings. We show that even though ADIQP circuits are strictly weaker than IQP circuits in a sense, they are also hard to simulate classically up to a multiplicative error and an error in the $l_1$ norm. Moreover, the properties of ADIQP make it easy to investigate the verifiability of ADIQP circuits and the difficulties in realizing ADIQP circuits.

Quantum Computation using Arrays of N Polar Molecules in Pendular States.

We investigate several aspects of realizing quantum computation using entangled polar molecules in pendular states. Quantum algorithms typically start from a product state |00⋯0⟩ and we show that up to a negligible error, the ground states of polar molecule arrays can be considered as the unentangled qubit basis state |00⋯0⟩ . This state can be prepared by simply allowing the system to reach thermal equilibrium at low temperature (<1 mK). We also evaluate entanglement, characterized by concurrence of pendular state qubits in dipole arrays as governed by the external electric field, dipole-dipole coupling and number N of molecules in the array. In the parameter regime that we consider for quantum computing, we find that qubit entanglement is modest, typically no greater than 10-4 , confirming the negligible entanglement in the ground state. We discuss methods for realizing quantum computation in the gate model, measurement-based model, instantaneous quantum polynomial time circuits and the adiabatic model using polar molecules in pendular states.

Average-Case Complexity Versus Approximate Simulation of Commuting Quantum Computations.

We use the class of commuting quantum computations known as IQP (instantaneous quantum polynomial time) to strengthen the conjecture that quantum computers are hard to simulate classically. We show that, if either of two plausible average-case hardness conjectures holds, then IQP computations are hard to simulate classically up to constant additive error. One conjecture relates to the hardness of estimating the complex-temperature partition function for random instances of the Ising model; the other concerns approximating the number of zeroes of random low-degree polynomials. We observe that both conjectures can be shown to be valid in the setting of worst-case complexity. We arrive at these conjectures by deriving spin-based generalizations of the boson sampling problem that avoid the so-called permanent anticoncentration conjecture.

Diagonal quantum circuits: Their computational power and applications

Diagonal quantum circuits are quantum circuits comprising only diagonal gates in the computational basis. In spite of a classical feature of diagonal quantum circuits in the sense of commutativity of all gates, their computational power is highly likely to outperform classical one and they are exploited for applications in quantum informational tasks. We review computational power of diagonal quantum circuits and their applications. We focus on the computational power of instantaneous quantum polynomial-time (IQP) circuits, which are a special type of diagonal quantum circuits. We then review an approximate generation of random states as an application of diagonal quantum circuits, where random states are an ensemble of pure states uniformly distributed in a Hilbert space. We also present a thermalizing algorithm of classical Hamiltonians by using diagonal quantum circuits. These applications are feasible to be experimentally implemented by current technology due to a simple and robust structure of diagonal gates.