Operators · VQE Hamiltonians and observables
MaxCut cost operator
QAOA objective for graph cuts. Representative form: C = 1/2 Σ(i,j)∈E (I - ZᵢZⱼ).
Attested & literatureUpdated
- Representative formC = 1/2 Σ(i,j)∈E (I - ZᵢZⱼ)
- Record typeOperator definition
- Papers1
This record, used inside a worked example
This page says To use this record in VQE
— here is a concrete, runnable instance of it.
VQE on a 2-qubit transverse-field Ising Hamiltonian
2 qubits, H = Z⊗Z + 0.5*(X⊗I + I⊗X), a stated toy Hamiltonian (not a molecule), minimised with a hardware-efficient ansatz.
Where it ends up
- 1043%
- 0143%
- 007%
- 117%
At these angles the ansatz's energy ⟨H⟩ reaches E0 = −√2, the Hamiltonian's exact ground energy; a real VQE run reaches these angles by repeating measure-the-energy then update-the-angles, not by a closed-form solution.
Open that example in StudioMaxCut cost operator is cataloged as an operator rather than a circuit. QAOA objective for graph cuts.
TakesNothingWhat joins here
No input port, deliberately. You measure a state with this entry; you do not apply it and pass a register on.
Nothing in the Atlas meets this end.
ReturnsNothingWhat joins here
No output port, deliberately. An observable is measured with, never applied, so there is no register to hand on.
Nothing in the Atlas meets this end.
Not a stage. You measure a state with this; you do not apply it and pass a register on. It has a width and deliberately no ports. See all 60 →
QAOA objective for graph cuts. A representative mathematical form is C = 1/2 Σ(i,j)∈E (I - ZᵢZⱼ). To use this record in VQE, an implementation must specify index ordering, coefficient values and units, basis conventions, fermion-to-qubit mapping where applicable, symmetry sector, and measurement grouping. Those choices can change resource counts and even the physical interpretation. The catalog therefore preserves this as a sourced operator definition and refuses to fabricate seven circuit variants for an object that is not itself an ordered gate program.
TakesNothingWhat joins here
No input port, deliberately. You measure a state with this entry; you do not apply it and pass a register on.
Nothing in the Atlas meets this end.
ReturnsNothingWhat joins here
No output port, deliberately. An observable is measured with, never applied, so there is no register to hand on.
Nothing in the Atlas meets this end.
Not a stage. You measure a state with this; you do not apply it and pass a register on. It has a width and deliberately no ports. See all 60 →
- Representative form
- C = 1/2 Σ(i,j)∈E (I - ZᵢZⱼ)
- Record type
- Operator definition
- Circuit
- Not supplied
- Instance data
- Required for execution
This record is not a concrete circuit.
Quantum vs classical
Classical baseline
Use a classical state-vector or matrix simulation at the same width, precision, and measurement objective.
Quantum claim
The quantum record demonstrates a state or operator behavior; it does not make classical simulation or communication costs disappear.
How to compare
Compare fidelity, samples, gate depth, noise, memory, and the cost of preparing and reading the state.
Nobody has reviewed this record for gaps yet.
OPERATOR: MaxCut cost operator
REPRESENTATIVE FORM: C = 1/2 Σ(i,j)∈E (I - ZᵢZⱼ)
ROLE: QAOA objective for graph cuts.
This is a mathematical operator record, not an executable circuit.A reference record, not runnable source. Leona cannot execute it, so it cannot be saved to your Library as a circuit.
Where the map uses this
This record is an instance of an object the map names, so these are the processes that consume or produce one. None of them is about this record in particular.
Hamiltonian you can query 6 of 34 processes
- Graph-Laplacian finite differences hands one back
- Recast a non-Hermitian generator as Hamiltonian evolution hands one back
- Block-encode a matrix takes one
- Simulate Hamiltonian evolution takes one
- Frame an operator as a ground-state question takes one
- Frame an operator as a ground-state question hands one back
Related entries
- Variational quantum eigensolver for ground-state energy
Algorithms
- Pauli-X operator
Operators
References
- OpenFermion: The Electronic Structure Package for Quantum Computers
Jarrod R. McClean, Kevin J. Sung, Ian D. Kivlichan, Yudong Cao, Chengyu Dai, E. Schuyler Fried, Craig Gidney, Brendan Gimby, Pranav Gokhale, Thomas Häner, Tarini Hardikar, Vojtěch Havlíček, Oscar Higgott, Cupjin Huang, Josh Izaac, Zhang Jiang, Xinle Liu, Sam McArdle, Matthew Neeley, Thomas O'Brien, Bryan O'Gorman, Isil Ozfidan, Maxwell D. Radin, Jhonathan Romero, Nicholas Rubin, Nicolas P. D. Sawaya, Kanav Setia, Sukin Sim, Damian S. Steiger, Mark Steudtner, Qiming Sun, Wei Sun, Daochen Wang, Fang Zhang, Ryan Babbush · 2017
Provides open-source representations and transformations for fermionic and qubit operators used in quantum simulation.