Patent attributes
Methods and apparatus for enhancing simulated annealing with quantum fluctuations. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining an input state; performing simulated annealing on the input state with a temperature reduction schedule until a decrease in energy is below a first minimum value; terminating the simulated annealing in response to determining that the decrease in energy is below the first minimum level; outputting a first evolved state and first temperature value; reducing the temperature to a minimum temperature value; performing quantum annealing on the first evolved state with a transversal field increase schedule until a completion of a second event occurs; terminating the quantum annealing in response to determining that a completion of the second event has occurred; outputting a second evolved state as a subsequent input state for the simulated annealing, and determining that the completion of the first event has occurred.
