arXiv subjects

Maximilian Zorn

Publications and source records attributed to Maximilian Zorn.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

CUAOA: A Novel CUDA-Accelerated Simulation Framework for the QAOA

The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) is a prominent quantum algorithm designed to find approximate solutions to combinatorial optimization problems, which are challenging for classical computers. In the current era, where quantum hardware is constrained by noise and limited qubit availability, simulating the QAOA remains essential for research. However, existing state-of-the-art simulation frameworks suffer from long execution times or lack comprehensive functionality, usability, and versatility, often requiring users to implement essential features themselves. Additionally, these frameworks are primarily restricted to Python, limiting their use in safer and faster languages like Rust, which offer, e.g., advanced parallelization capabilities. In this paper, we develop a GPU accelerated QAOA simulation framework utilizing the NVIDIA CUDA toolkit. This framework offers a complete interface for QAOA simulations, enabling the calculation of (exact) expectation values, direct access to the statevector, fast sampling, and high-performance optimization methods using an advanced state-of-the-art gradient calculation technique. The framework is designed for use in Python and Rust, providing flexibility for integration into a wide range of applications, including those requiring fast algorithm implementations leveraging QAOA at its core. The new framework's performance is rigorously benchmarked on the MaxCut problem and compared against the current state-of-the-art general-purpose quantum circuit simulation frameworks Qiskit and Pennylane as well as the specialized QAOA simulation tool QOKit. Our evaluation shows that our approach outperforms the existing state-of-the-art solutions in terms of runtime up to multiple orders of magnitude. Our implementation is publicly available at https://github.com/JFLXB/cuaoa and Zenodo.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Swarm Behavior Cloning

In sequential decision-making environments, the primary approaches for training agents are Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Imitation Learning (IL). Unlike RL, which relies on modeling a reward function, IL leverages expert demonstrations, where an expert policy $π_e$ (e.g., a human) provides the desired behavior. Formally, a dataset $D$ of state-action pairs is provided: $D = {(s, a = π_e(s))}$. A common technique within IL is Behavior Cloning (BC), where a policy $π(s) = a$ is learned through supervised learning on $D$. Further improvements can be achieved by using an ensemble of $N$ individually trained BC policies, denoted as $E = {π_i(s)}{1 \leq i \leq N}$. The ensemble's action $a$ for a given state $s$ is the aggregated output of the $N$ actions: $a = \frac{1}{N} \sum{i} π_i(s)$. This paper addresses the issue of increasing action differences -- the observation that discrepancies between the $N$ predicted actions grow in states that are underrepresented in the training data. Large action differences can result in suboptimal aggregated actions. To address this, we propose a method that fosters greater alignment among the policies while preserving the diversity of their computations. This approach reduces action differences and ensures that the ensemble retains its inherent strengths, such as robustness and varied decision-making. We evaluate our approach across eight diverse environments, demonstrating a notable decrease in action differences and significant improvements in overall performance, as measured by mean episode returns.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2024

Optimizing Sensor Redundancy in Sequential Decision-Making Problems

Reinforcement Learning (RL) policies are designed to predict actions based on current observations to maximize cumulative future rewards. In real-world applications (i.e., non-simulated environments), sensors are essential for measuring the current state and providing the observations on which RL policies rely to make decisions. A significant challenge in deploying RL policies in real-world scenarios is handling sensor dropouts, which can result from hardware malfunctions, physical damage, or environmental factors like dust on a camera lens. A common strategy to mitigate this issue is the use of backup sensors, though this comes with added costs. This paper explores the optimization of backup sensor configurations to maximize expected returns while keeping costs below a specified threshold, C. Our approach uses a second-order approximation of expected returns and includes penalties for exceeding cost constraints. We then optimize this quadratic program using Tabu Search, a meta-heuristic algorithm. The approach is evaluated across eight OpenAI Gym environments and a custom Unity-based robotic environment (RobotArmGrasping). Empirical results demonstrate that our quadratic program effectively approximates real expected returns, facilitating the identification of optimal sensor configurations.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2024

Finding Strong Lottery Ticket Networks with Genetic Algorithms

According to the Strong Lottery Ticket Hypothesis, every sufficiently large neural network with randomly initialized weights contains a sub-network which - still with its random weights - already performs as well for a given task as the trained super-network. We present the first approach based on a genetic algorithm to find such strong lottery ticket sub-networks without training or otherwise computing any gradient. We show that, for smaller instances of binary classification tasks, our evolutionary approach even produces smaller and better-performing lottery ticket networks than the state-of-the-art approach using gradient information.

cs.NE↗

arXiv2024

Emergence in Multi-Agent Systems: A Safety Perspective

Emergent effects can arise in multi-agent systems (MAS) where execution is decentralized and reliant on local information. These effects may range from minor deviations in behavior to catastrophic system failures. To formally define these effects, we identify misalignments between the global inherent specification (the true specification) and its local approximation (such as the configuration of different reward components or observations). Using established safety terminology, we develop a framework to understand these emergent effects. To showcase the resulting implications, we use two broadly configurable exemplary gridworld scenarios, where insufficient specification leads to unintended behavior deviations when derived independently. Recognizing that a global adaptation might not always be feasible, we propose adjusting the underlying parameterizations to mitigate these issues, thereby improving the system's alignment and reducing the risk of emergent failures.

cs.MA↗

arXiv2024

Sequential Hamiltonian Assembly: Enhancing the training of combinatorial optimization problems on quantum computers

A central challenge in quantum machine learning is the design and training of parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs). Much like in deep learning, vanishing gradients pose significant obstacles to the trainability of PQCs, arising from various sources. One such source is the presence of non-local loss functions, which require the measurement of a large subset of qubits involved. To address this issue and facilitate parameter training for quantum applications using global loss functions, we propose Sequential Hamiltonian Assembly (SHA). SHA iteratively approximates the loss by assembling it from local components. To further demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we extend our previous case study by introducing a new partitioning strategy, a new merger between QAOA and SHA, and an evaluation of SHA onto the Max-Cut optimization problem. Simulation results show that SHA outperforms conventional parameter training by 43.89% and the empirical state-of-the-art, Layer-VQE by 29.08% in the mean accuracy for Max-Cut. This paves the way for locality-aware learning techniques, mitigating vanishing gradients for a large class of practically relevant problems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Optimizing Variational Quantum Circuits Using Metaheuristic Strategies in Reinforcement Learning

Quantum Reinforcement Learning (QRL) offers potential advantages over classical Reinforcement Learning, such as compact state space representation and faster convergence in certain scenarios. However, practical benefits require further validation. QRL faces challenges like flat solution landscapes, where traditional gradient-based methods are inefficient, necessitating the use of gradient-free algorithms. This work explores the integration of metaheuristic algorithms -- Particle Swarm Optimization, Ant Colony Optimization, Tabu Search, Genetic Algorithm, Simulated Annealing, and Harmony Search -- into QRL. These algorithms provide flexibility and efficiency in parameter optimization. Evaluations in $5\times5$ MiniGrid Reinforcement Learning environments show that, all algorithms yield near-optimal results, with Simulated Annealing and Particle Swarm Optimization performing best. In the Cart Pole environment, Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithms, and Particle Swarm Optimization achieve optimal results, while the others perform slightly better than random action selection. These findings demonstrate the potential of Particle Swarm Optimization and Simulated Annealing for efficient QRL learning, emphasizing the need for careful algorithm selection and adaptation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Using an Evolutionary Algorithm to Create (MAX)-3SAT QUBOs

A common way of solving satisfiability instances with quantum methods is to transform these instances into instances of QUBO, which in itself is a potentially difficult and expensive task. State-of-the-art transformations from MAX-3SAT to QUBO currently work by mapping clauses of a 3SAT formula associated with the MAX-3SAT instance to an instance of QUBO and combining the resulting QUBOs into a single QUBO instance representing the whole MAX-3SAT instance. As creating these transformations is currently done manually or via exhaustive search methods and, therefore, algorithmically inefficient, we see potential for including search-based optimization. In this paper, we propose two methods of using evolutionary algorithms to automatically create QUBO representations of MAX-3SAT problems. We evaluate our created QUBOs on 500 and 1000-clause 3SAT formulae and find competitive performance to state-of-the-art baselines when using both classical and quantum annealing solvers.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

REACT: Revealing Evolutionary Action Consequence Trajectories for Interpretable Reinforcement Learning

To enhance the interpretability of Reinforcement Learning (RL), we propose Revealing Evolutionary Action Consequence Trajectories (REACT). In contrast to the prevalent practice of validating RL models based on their optimal behavior learned during training, we posit that considering a range of edge-case trajectories provides a more comprehensive understanding of their inherent behavior. To induce such scenarios, we introduce a disturbance to the initial state, optimizing it through an evolutionary algorithm to generate a diverse population of demonstrations. To evaluate the fitness of trajectories, REACT incorporates a joint fitness function that encourages both local and global diversity in the encountered states and chosen actions. Through assessments with policies trained for varying durations in discrete and continuous environments, we demonstrate the descriptive power of REACT. Our results highlight its effectiveness in revealing nuanced aspects of RL models' behavior beyond optimal performance, thereby contributing to improved interpretability.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2024

MEDIATE: Mutually Endorsed Distributed Incentive Acknowledgment Token Exchange

Recent advances in multi-agent systems (MAS) have shown that incorporating peer incentivization (PI) mechanisms vastly improves cooperation. Especially in social dilemmas, communication between the agents helps to overcome sub-optimal Nash equilibria. However, incentivization tokens need to be carefully selected. Furthermore, real-world applications might yield increased privacy requirements and limited exchange. Therefore, we extend the PI protocol for mutual acknowledgment token exchange (MATE) and provide additional analysis on the impact of the chosen tokens. Building upon those insights, we propose mutually endorsed distributed incentive acknowledgment token exchange (MEDIATE), an extended PI architecture employing automatic token derivation via decentralized consensus. Empirical results show the stable agreement on appropriate tokens yielding superior performance compared to static tokens and state-of-the-art approaches in different social dilemma environments with various reward distributions.

cs.MA↗

arXiv2024

Quantum Advantage Actor-Critic for Reinforcement Learning

Quantum computing offers efficient encapsulation of high-dimensional states. In this work, we propose a novel quantum reinforcement learning approach that combines the Advantage Actor-Critic algorithm with variational quantum circuits by substituting parts of the classical components. This approach addresses reinforcement learning's scalability concerns while maintaining high performance. We empirically test multiple quantum Advantage Actor-Critic configurations with the well known Cart Pole environment to evaluate our approach in control tasks with continuous state spaces. Our results indicate that the hybrid strategy of using either a quantum actor or quantum critic with classical post-processing yields a substantial performance increase compared to pure classical and pure quantum variants with similar parameter counts. They further reveal the limits of current quantum approaches due to the hardware constraints of noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers, suggesting further research to scale hybrid approaches for larger and more complex control tasks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

A Reinforcement Learning Environment for Directed Quantum Circuit Synthesis

With recent advancements in quantum computing technology, optimizing quantum circuits and ensuring reliable quantum state preparation have become increasingly vital. Traditional methods often demand extensive expertise and manual calculations, posing challenges as quantum circuits grow in qubit- and gate-count. Therefore, harnessing machine learning techniques to handle the growing variety of gate-to-qubit combinations is a promising approach. In this work, we introduce a comprehensive reinforcement learning environment for quantum circuit synthesis, where circuits are constructed utilizing gates from the the Clifford+T gate set to prepare specific target states. Our experiments focus on exploring the relationship between the depth of synthesized quantum circuits and the circuit depths used for target initialization, as well as qubit count. We organize the environment configurations into multiple evaluation levels and include a range of well-known quantum states for benchmarking purposes. We also lay baselines for evaluating the environment using Proximal Policy Optimization. By applying the trained agents to benchmark tests, we demonstrated their ability to reliably design minimal quantum circuits for a selection of 2-qubit Bell states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Introducing Reduced-Width QNNs, an AI-inspired Ansatz Design Pattern

Variational Quantum Algorithms are one of the most promising candidates to yield the first industrially relevant quantum advantage. Being capable of arbitrary function approximation, they are often referred to as Quantum Neural Networks (QNNs) when being used in analog settings as classical Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Similar to the early stages of classical machine learning, known schemes for efficient architectures of these networks are scarce. Exploring beyond existing design patterns, we propose a reduced-width circuit ansatz design, which is motivated by recent results gained in the analysis of dropout regularization in QNNs. More precisely, this exploits the insight, that the gates of overparameterized QNNs can be pruned substantially until their expressibility decreases. The results of our case study show, that the proposed design pattern can significantly reduce training time while maintaining the same result quality as the standard "full-width" design in the presence of noise.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Attention-Based Recurrence for Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning under Stochastic Partial Observability

Stochastic partial observability poses a major challenge for decentralized coordination in multi-agent reinforcement learning but is largely neglected in state-of-the-art research due to a strong focus on state-based centralized training for decentralized execution (CTDE) and benchmarks that lack sufficient stochasticity like StarCraft Multi-Agent Challenge (SMAC). In this paper, we propose Attention-based Embeddings of Recurrence In multi-Agent Learning (AERIAL) to approximate value functions under stochastic partial observability. AERIAL replaces the true state with a learned representation of multi-agent recurrence, considering more accurate information about decentralized agent decisions than state-based CTDE. We then introduce MessySMAC, a modified version of SMAC with stochastic observations and higher variance in initial states, to provide a more general and configurable benchmark regarding stochastic partial observability. We evaluate AERIAL in Dec-Tiger as well as in a variety of SMAC and MessySMAC maps, and compare the results with state-based CTDE. Furthermore, we evaluate the robustness of AERIAL and state-based CTDE against various stochasticity configurations in MessySMAC.

cs.MA↗

arXiv2023

Improving Parameter Training for VQEs by Sequential Hamiltonian Assembly

A central challenge in quantum machine learning is the design and training of parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs). Similar to deep learning, vanishing gradients pose immense problems in the trainability of PQCs, which have been shown to arise from a multitude of sources. One such cause are non-local loss functions, that demand the measurement of a large subset of involved qubits. To facilitate the parameter training for quantum applications using global loss functions, we propose a Sequential Hamiltonian Assembly, which iteratively approximates the loss function using local components. Aiming for a prove of principle, we evaluate our approach using Graph Coloring problem with a Varational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE). Simulation results show, that our approach outperforms conventional parameter training by 29.99% and the empirical state of the art, Layerwise Learning, by 5.12% in the mean accuracy. This paves the way towards locality-aware learning techniques, allowing to evade vanishing gradients for a large class of practically relevant problems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Improving Primate Sounds Classification using Binary Presorting for Deep Learning

In the field of wildlife observation and conservation, approaches involving machine learning on audio recordings are becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, available datasets from this field of research are often not optimal learning material; Samples can be weakly labeled, of different lengths or come with a poor signal-to-noise ratio. In this work, we introduce a generalized approach that first relabels subsegments of MEL spectrogram representations, to achieve higher performances on the actual multi-class classification tasks. For both the binary pre-sorting and the classification, we make use of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and various data-augmentation techniques. We showcase the results of this approach on the challenging \textit{ComparE 2021} dataset, with the task of classifying between different primate species sounds, and report significantly higher Accuracy and UAR scores in contrast to comparatively equipped model baselines.

cs.SD↗

arXiv2023

Evidence that PUBO outperforms QUBO when solving continuous optimization problems with the QAOA

Quantum computing provides powerful algorithmic tools that have been shown to outperform established classical solvers in specific optimization tasks. A core step in solving optimization problems with known quantum algorithms such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) is the problem formulation. While quantum optimization has historically centered around Quadratic Unconstrained Optimization (QUBO) problems, recent studies show, that many combinatorial problems such as the TSP can be solved more efficiently in their native Polynomial Unconstrained Optimization (PUBO) forms. As many optimization problems in practice also contain continuous variables, our contribution investigates the performance of the QAOA in solving continuous optimization problems when using PUBO and QUBO formulations. Our extensive evaluation on suitable benchmark functions, shows that PUBO formulations generally yield better results, while requiring less qubits. As the multi-qubit interactions needed for the PUBO variant have to be decomposed using the hardware gates available, i.e., currently single- and two-qubit gates, the circuit depth of the PUBO approach outscales its QUBO alternative roughly linearly in the order of the objective function. However, incorporating the planned addition of native multi-qubit gates such as the global Molmer-Sorenson gate, our experiments indicate that PUBO outperforms QUBO for higher order continuous optimization problems in general.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Constructing Organism Networks from Collaborative Self-Replicators

We introduce organism networks, which function like a single neural network but are composed of several neural particle networks; while each particle network fulfils the role of a single weight application within the organism network, it is also trained to self-replicate its own weights. As organism networks feature vastly more parameters than simpler architectures, we perform our initial experiments on an arithmetic task as well as on simplified MNIST-dataset classification as a collective. We observe that individual particle networks tend to specialise in either of the tasks and that the ones fully specialised in the secondary task may be dropped from the network without hindering the computational accuracy of the primary task. This leads to the discovery of a novel pruning-strategy for sparse neural networks

cs.NE↗