A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs

Abstract Combinatorial optimization problems over graphs, such as the traveling salesman problem, longest path problem, and maximum independent set problem, are well-known for being computationally costly, some even NP-hard problems. In this paper, we propose a general quantum algorithm framework se...

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Main Authors: Meng Shi, Sai Wu, Ying Li, Gongsheng Yuan, Chang Yao, Gang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-01-01
Series:Data Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s41019-024-00269-4
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author Meng Shi
Sai Wu
Ying Li
Gongsheng Yuan
Chang Yao
Gang Chen
author_facet Meng Shi
Sai Wu
Ying Li
Gongsheng Yuan
Chang Yao
Gang Chen
author_sort Meng Shi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Combinatorial optimization problems over graphs, such as the traveling salesman problem, longest path problem, and maximum independent set problem, are well-known for being computationally costly, some even NP-hard problems. In this paper, we propose a general quantum algorithm framework searching for approximate solutions to combinatorial optimization problems with linear objective functions. Our framework provides APIs (application programming interfaces) that enable developers to encode weighted graph structures onto quantum circuits and utilize variational algorithms to generate approximate solutions. One key advantage of our framework is that it allows developers to design new graph algorithms for the graph problem represented as linear combinations of edge weights without requiring expertise in quantum programming. Besides, it only uses a logarithmic level of quantum bit scale, making our framework work on quantum computers with limited physical resources. Our experimental results demonstrate that our framework can provide good approximations for the traveling salesman problem compared to current quantum algorithm.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2364-1185
2364-1541
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Data Science and Engineering
spelling doaj-art-af4d7d276e08419fa55ecb079d1a76412025-08-20T03:26:43ZengSpringerOpenData Science and Engineering2364-11852364-15412025-01-0110224625710.1007/s41019-024-00269-4A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over GraphsMeng Shi0Sai Wu1Ying Li2Gongsheng Yuan3Chang Yao4Gang Chen5Bangsun TechnologyBangsun TechnologyBangsun TechnologyBangsun TechnologyBangsun TechnologyBangsun TechnologyAbstract Combinatorial optimization problems over graphs, such as the traveling salesman problem, longest path problem, and maximum independent set problem, are well-known for being computationally costly, some even NP-hard problems. In this paper, we propose a general quantum algorithm framework searching for approximate solutions to combinatorial optimization problems with linear objective functions. Our framework provides APIs (application programming interfaces) that enable developers to encode weighted graph structures onto quantum circuits and utilize variational algorithms to generate approximate solutions. One key advantage of our framework is that it allows developers to design new graph algorithms for the graph problem represented as linear combinations of edge weights without requiring expertise in quantum programming. Besides, it only uses a logarithmic level of quantum bit scale, making our framework work on quantum computers with limited physical resources. Our experimental results demonstrate that our framework can provide good approximations for the traveling salesman problem compared to current quantum algorithm.https://doi.org/10.1007/s41019-024-00269-4Quantum computingVariational quantum algorithmsCombinatorial optimization problemTraveling salesman problem
spellingShingle Meng Shi
Sai Wu
Ying Li
Gongsheng Yuan
Chang Yao
Gang Chen
A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
Data Science and Engineering
Quantum computing
Variational quantum algorithms
Combinatorial optimization problem
Traveling salesman problem
title A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
title_full A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
title_fullStr A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
title_full_unstemmed A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
title_short A Quantum Framework for Combinatorial Optimization Problem over Graphs
title_sort quantum framework for combinatorial optimization problem over graphs
topic Quantum computing
Variational quantum algorithms
Combinatorial optimization problem
Traveling salesman problem
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s41019-024-00269-4
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