CutQAS: Topology-aware quantum circuit cutting via reinforcement learning

Abstract: Simulating molecular systems on quantum processors has the potential to surpass classical methods in computational resource efficiency. The limited qubit connectivity, small processor size, and short coherence times of near-term quantum hardware constrain the applicability of quantum algorithms like QPE and VQE. Quantum circuit cutting mitigates these constraints by partitioning large circuits into smaller subcircuits, enabling execution on resource-limited devices. However, finding optimal circuit partitions remains a significant challenge, affecting both computational efficiency and accuracy. To address these limitations, in this article, we propose CutQAS, a novel framework that integrates quantum circuit cutting with quantum architecture search (QAS) to enhance quantum chemistry simulations. Our framework employs a multi-step reinforcement learning (RL) agent to optimize circuit configurations. First, an RL agent explores all possible topologies to identify an optimal circuit structure. Subsequently, a second RL agent refines the selected topology by determining optimal circuit cuts, ensuring efficient execution on constrained hardware. Through numerical simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in improving simulation accuracy and resource efficiency. This approach presents a scalable solution for quantum chemistry applications, offering a systematic pathway to overcoming hardware constraints in near-term quantum computing.