Quick Navigation

Overview Topics Abstract Importance Paper Tools References Reactions Discussion Publication Related

Topics

Quantum Optimization Quantum Simulation

A sharp interaction-degree threshold for simulating QAOA

arXiv

Authors: Ralfs Āboliņš, Andris Ambainis

Year

2026

Paper ID

63662

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

Citations

N/A

Abstract

We identify a sharp interaction-degree threshold for the classical simulation of QAOA with 2-local cost functions. At degree 3, classical sampling from depth-1 QAOA with small multiplicative error would collapse the polynomial hierarchy to its third level. At degree 2, exact classical sampling from depth-p QAOA on n qubits runs in time n^O(1) whenever p = O\(log n\). The hard degree-3 instances have trivially optimizable cost functions, so sampling hardness does not by itself imply a quantum optimization advantage.

Why This Paper Matters

This paper contributes to the Quantum Simulation research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
It adds a 2026 reference point for readers tracking recent quantum research.
We identify a sharp interaction-degree threshold for the classical simulation of QAOA with 2-local cost functions.

Paper Tools

Become a member to use research tools

Sign in to open papers, visit source links, share, cite, compare, copy DOI links, request category corrections, and build your reading list.

Become a member Sign in

Show Paper arXiv Publisher Share Cite This Paper Copy URL Compare Copy DOI Add to Reading List Category Correction Request

References & Citation Signals

[1] DOI https://doi.org/arXiv:2605.22758 [2] arXiv https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.22758 [3] Publisher https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.22758

Local Citation Graph (Related-Paper Links)

External citation index: OpenAlex citation signal

Community Reactions

Quick sentiment from readers on this paper.

Score: 0

Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0

Discussion & Reviews (Moderated)

Average Rating: 0.0 / 5 (0 ratings)

No written reviews yet.