Quafu-Qcover: Explore Combinatorial Optimization Problems on Cloud-based Quantum Computers

TL;DR

Quafu-Qcover is an open-source software package that streamlines solving combinatorial optimization problems on cloud-based quantum computers using QAOA, with efficient modeling, compilation, and real-time device calibration features.

Contribution

It introduces a complete workflow for combinatorial optimization on cloud quantum computers, including problem modeling, a graph decomposition-based classical algorithm, and a specialized compiler for efficient quantum circuit generation.

Findings

Efficiently models problems as QUBO and Ising models for quantum solving.

Produces shorter, faster quantum circuits with higher fidelity.

Enables asynchronous sampling and intuitive visualization of results.

Abstract

We present Quafu-Qcover, an open-source cloud-based software package designed for combinatorial optimization problems that support both quantum simulators and hardware backends. Quafu-Qcover provides a standardized and complete workflow for solving combinatorial optimization problems using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). It enables the automatic modeling of the original problem as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) model and corresponding Ising model, which can be further transformed into a weight graph. The core of Qcover relies on a graph decomposition-based classical algorithm, which enables obtaining the optimal parameters for the shallow QAOA circuit more efficiently. Quafu-Qcover includes a specialized compiler that translates QAOA circuits into physical quantum circuits capable of execution on Quafu cloud quantum computers. Compared to a general-purpose compiler, ours generates shorter circuit depths while also possessing better speed performance. The Qcover compiler can establish a library of qubits coupling substructures in real time based on the updated calibration data of the superconducting quantum devices, ensuring that the task is executed on physical qubits with higher fidelity. The Quafu-Qcover allows us to retrieve quantum computer sampling result information at any time using task ID, enabling asynchronous processing. Besides, it includes modules for result preprocessing and visualization, allowing for an intuitive display of the solution to combinatorial optimization problems. We hope that Quafu-Qcover can serve as a guiding example for how to explore application problems on the Quafu cloud quantum computers