Quantum-inspired optimization for wavelength assignment

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum-inspired algorithm for wavelength assignment in optical networks, demonstrating its advantages over classical methods and opening pathways for practical quantum computing applications.

Contribution

The paper develops an improved embedding procedure for WA into QUBO form and compares quantum-inspired solutions with classical heuristics, showing notable performance benefits.

Findings

Quantum-inspired approach outperforms classical heuristics in many test cases.

The new embedding reduces the number of iterations needed for convergence.

Results suggest potential for quantum computing in telecommunications optimization.

Abstract

Problems related to wavelength assignment (WA) in optical communications networks involve allocating transmission wavelengths for known transmission paths between nodes that minimize a certain objective function, for example, the total number of wavelengths. Playing a central role in modern telecommunications, this problem belongs to NP-complete class for a general case, so that obtaining optimal solutions for industry relevant cases is exponentially hard. In this work, we propose and develop a quantum-inspired algorithm for solving the wavelength assignment problem. We propose an advanced embedding procedure for this problem into the quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) form having an improvement in the number of iterations with price-to-pay being a slight increase in the number of variables ("spins"). Then we compare a quantum-inspired technique for solving the corresponding QUBO form against classical heuristic and industrial combinatorial solvers. The obtained numerical results indicate on an advantage of the quantum-inspired approach in a substantial number of test cases against the industrial combinatorial solver that works in the standard setting. Our results pave the way to the use of quantum-inspired algorithms for practical problems in telecommunications and open a perspective for the further analysis of the employ of quantum computing devices.