Faster Coherent Quantum Algorithms for Phase, Energy, and Amplitude Estimation

We consider performing phase estimation under the following conditions: we are given only one copy of the input state, the input state does not have to be an eigenstate of the unitary, and the state must not be measured. Most quantum estimation algorithms make assumptions that make them unsuitable for this 'coherent' setting, leaving only the textbook approach. We present novel algorithms for phase, energy, and amplitude estimation that are both conceptually and computationally simpler than the textbook method, featuring both a smaller query complexity and ancilla footprint. They do not require a quantum Fourier transform, and they do not require a quantum sorting network to compute the median of several estimates. Instead, they use block-encoding techniques to compute the estimate one bit at a time, performing all amplification via singular value transformation. These improved subroutines accelerate the performance of quantum Metropolis sampling and quantum Bayesian inference.

A Sorting Network on Trees

Sorting networks are a class of parallel oblivious sorting algorithms. Not only do they have interesting theoretical properties but they can be fabricated. A sorting network is a sequence of parallel compare-exchange operations using comparators which are grouped into stages. This underlying graph defines the topology of the network. The majority of results on sorting networks concern the unrestricted case where the underlying graph is the complete graph. Prior results are also known for paths, hypercubes, and meshes. In this paper we introduce a sorting network whose underlying topology is a tree and formalize the concept of sorting networks on a restricted graph topology by introducing a new parameter for graphs called its sorting number. The main result of the paper is a description of an [Formula: see text] depth sorting network on a tree with maximum degree [Formula: see text].