From Constraint to Code: DQI-Kit -- A Software Framework for Decoded Quantum Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces DQI-Kit, a software framework that automates the transformation of constrained optimisation problems into Max-LINSAT format for Decoded Quantum Interferometry, aiming to facilitate quantum advantage exploration.

Contribution

It presents a unified, extensible software tool for encoding industrial optimisation problems into Max-LINSAT for DQI, including analysis of transformation inefficiencies.

Findings

Framework enables automatic problem encoding into Max-LINSAT.

Initial analysis highlights inefficiencies in transformations.

Establishes groundwork for identifying practical quantum advantage cases.

Abstract

Trying to solve hard optimisation problems with quantum techniques requires transformations of domain objectives and constraints into formats compatible with a chosen quantum algorithm. This often introduces inefficiencies and overheads that limit or even endanger potential quantum advantage for current and future approaches. To understand and mitigate these inefficiencies, software toolchains are essential for implementing transformations, analysing overheads and eventually selecting optimal transformation paths. Decoded Quantum Interferometry (DQI) is a novel approach that achieves apparent quantum advantage for certain algebraic optimisation problems. It natively operates on Max-LINSAT, which is unusual for combinatorial optimisation, and creates the need for software solutions that alleviate the burden of manually transforming problems of interest into this format. We present DQI-Kit, a software framework that provides a unified, extensible interface for automatically encoding constrained optimisation problems into Max-LINSAT. Users can describe the various types of objectives and constraints that are common in industrial optimisation problems. Our framework converts these into Max-LINSAT instances via a series of problem transformations and computes an estimate of the expected performance of DQI on these instances. We provide an initial analysis of the implemented transformations, discussing inefficiencies and ways to mitigate them. DQI-Kit is the basis for our ultimate goal of establishing a standardised framework that will enable further investigations to identify practical use cases for which quantum advantage with DQI can be achieved.