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Algorithms · Quantum query algorithm

NAND tree evaluation with discrete queries

Determine the value at the root of a read-once Boolean formula, canonically a NAND tree on N variables, given only oracle access to the variables and using as few queries as possible.

Attested & literatureUpdated

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  • Record typeLiterature reference
  • Speedup class (secondary source)Polynomial
  • Primary source on the speedupNot checked against the primary source yet
  • Reported costO(N^(1/2 + ε)) queries in the conventional quantum query model for any fixed ε > 0, converted from a continuous-time algorithm running in time O(√(N log N)) in the Hamiltonian query model; the Zoo states the walk's cost separately, in exponential form, as NAND trees on 2^n variables evaluable in time O(2^(0.5n)), against Ω(2^(0.753n)) queries required classically.
  • Papers1

A part this method uses, worked through

This page says continuous-time quantum walk — here is a concrete, runnable instance of it.

A discrete-time quantum walk on a 4-cycle

One coin qubit, two position qubits (4 positions on a cycle), 3 steps starting at position 0.

q0q1q2Quantum walk step (4-cycle)Quantum walk step (4-cycle)Quantum walk step (4-cycle)

Where it ends up

  • 11050%
  • 11150%

The position always reads 3, for either value of the coin: constructive interference on this small cycle concentrates the walk onto a single position after exactly 3 steps.

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Quantum vs classical

Classical baseline

Compare Quantum query algorithm with the strongest classical method for the same instance, input budget, and output metric.

Quantum claim

This reference exposes a quantum circuit pattern; it does not imply an application-level speedup without a matched benchmark.

How to compare

Report input loading, circuit depth, repetitions, classical preprocessing, post-processing, and wall-clock time together.

References

  • Discrete-query quantum algorithm for NAND trees

    Andrew M. Childs, Richard Cleve, Stephen P. Jordan, David Yonge-Mallo · 2007

    Primary source for the discrete-query bound: it points out that the continuous-time NAND-tree algorithm can be converted from the Hamiltonian query model into the conventional quantum query model at O(N^(1/2 + ε)) queries for any fixed ε > 0. Consult it for what the conversion assumes and for how the overhead depends on ε.

Attested & literature
  • Peer-reviewed paper
Method
Curation only. The problem statement was recorded from the literature; the speedup class is not yet checked against the record's own primary paper; the primary reference's title, authors and submission year were read from its arXiv abs page; the complexity claim was taken from a clause of that paper's abstract (abstract of arXiv:quant-ph/0702160: "their algorithm can be converted into an algorithm using O(N^{1/2 + epsilon}) queries in the conventional quantum query model, for any fixed epsilon > 0", and, for the model it starts from, "a quantum algorithm for evaluating NAND trees that runs in time O(sqrt(N log N)) in the Hamiltonian query model". The exponential form is from the Quantum Algorithm Zoo entry "Formula Evaluation": "NAND trees on 2^n variables can be evaluated on quantum computers in time O(2^{0.5n}) using a continuous-time quantum walk, whereas classical computers require Ω(2^{0.753n}) queries."). No circuit was constructed, simulated or run.
Result
Pass · the record's problem, speedup class and primary reference agree with the two sources named above.
Caveat
This is a literature record: no circuit was built, compiled, simulated, or run, and no NAND-tree instance was evaluated. The figures are query counts in an oracle model, so gate counts, constant factors, and the cost of realizing the leaf oracle on hardware are not addressed, and the paper is explicit that its own contribution is the model conversion, not the O(√(N log N)) Hamiltonian-model algorithm, which is Farhi, Goldstone and Gutmann's. The ε in O(N^(1/2 + ε)) is an overhead that can be made small but does not vanish, so this bound approaches without meeting the Θ(√N) quantum query complexity that the Zoo attributes to Reichardt's span-program formalism. The bound also assumes the read-once formula structure; the Zoo notes separately that allowing repeated input variables changes the query count.
Discrete-query quantum algorithm for NAND trees ↗
Kind
curated reference
Reviewed by
Leona Quantum curation pass
License
Citation metadata only; source publication terms apply
nand treeformula evaluationquantum walkquery complexityoracle

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