Deutsch's Algorithm on a Quantum Computer
Deutsch's Algorithm on a Quantum Computer
In 1985, David Deutsch [1] proposed a highly contrived but simple algorithm to explore the potentially greater computational power of a quantum computer as compared to a classical computer. Consider four possible functions of a single-bit (or basis qubit) or , which produce a single-bit result or , as follows: (x)=0, (x)=1, (x)=x, (x)=1-x. The first two functions are classified as "constant" (with ), while the latter two are described as "balanced" (with ). Suppose now that a classical computer, idealized as a "black box", can perform the computation .
x=0
1
f(x)=0
1
f
1
f
2
f
3
f
4
f(0)=f(1)
f(0)≠f(1)
x→→f(x)
To determine whether is constant or balanced on a classical computer, it is necessary to run the program twice, with inputs and , respectively. For example, with the input , suppose we find . Then can be either or . We need a second run with to determine which alternative is correct. By contrast, a 2-qubit quantum computer can find the result in a single operation—one shot instead of two.
f(x)
x=0
x=1
x=0
f(x)=1
f
f
2
f
4
x=1
As shown in the graphic, a black box performing one of the four functions is built into the quantum computer circuit. Our objective is to determine whether this function is constant or balanced. The two qubits and (which can be abbreviated as the quantum state are input, and the program is executed. The first exit qubit is measured, which collapses it to a classical bit 0 or 1. Very directly, 0 indicates that is constant while 1 indicates that it is balanced. The second exit qubit can be discarded.
|0〉
|1〉
|01〉)
f
You can select one of the four possible functions and run the quantum-computer program. The quantum state of the two-qubit system at each stage of the computation is exhibited, colored in red.