Simultaneously optimal queries to both quantum linear-system oracles

Unsolved ID op_b0666933a3d77eba Last edited 9 September 2026
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Problem

Can one quantum linear-system algorithm attain both query bounds in (2) simultaneously? Let \(A\in\mathbb{C}^{N\times N}\) be invertible, with exact block-encoding oracle \(O_A\) for \(A/\alpha_A\) and state-preparation oracle \(O_b\lvert0\rangle=\lvert b\rangle\). Given bounds \(\alpha_A\geq\lVert A\rVert\), \(\alpha_{A^{-1}}\geq\lVert A^{-1}\rVert\), define (1):

\begin{equation} K=\alpha_A\alpha_{A^{-1}},\qquad p=\frac{\lVert A^{-1}\lvert b\rangle\rVert^2}{\alpha_{A^{-1}}^2},\qquad \lvert x\rangle=\frac{A^{-1}\lvert b\rangle}{\lVert A^{-1}\lvert b\rangle\rVert}. \tag{1} \end{equation}

Assume a constant-factor estimate of \(p\) is supplied. For every \(0<\epsilon<1/2\), require a state \(\lvert\widetilde{x}\rangle\) with \(\lVert\lvert\widetilde{x}\rangle-\lvert x\rangle\rVert\leq\epsilon\), with success probability at least \(2/3\), using

\begin{equation} Q_b=O(p^{-1/2}),\qquad Q_A=O\bigl(K\log(1/\epsilon)\bigr). \tag{2} \end{equation}

Queries include inverse and controlled oracle calls; constants must be uniform over admissible inputs.

Source

Low and Su, Section 7, Eq. (241), with the supplied-norm-estimate convention of Theorem 2 [LS26].

Progress

  • Theorem 2 achieves \(Q_b=O(p^{-1/2})\) and \(Q_A=O(KL\log(L/\epsilon))\), where \(L=\max\{1,\log(p^{-1/2})\}\). Theorem 4 achieves \(Q_A=O(K\log(1/\epsilon))\) with \(Q_b=O(K\log(1/\epsilon))\) [LS26].

  • Theorem 3 proves a worst-case \(\Omega(p^{-1/2})\) state-preparation lower bound when the inverse-norm bound is tight [LS26].

Comment

The gap is simultaneous attainment, not either bound separately. \(K\) bounds the spectral condition number. Estimating an initially unknown \(p\) is a separate resource question.

References

[LS26]
G. H. Low and Y. Su, “Quantum linear system algorithm with optimal queries to initial state preparation,” Quantum 10, 2041 (2026).DOIarXiv

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“Simultaneously optimal queries to both quantum linear-system oracles,” Quantum Information and Quantum Computation Open Problem Zoo (QIQCOP Zoo), ID op_b0666933a3d77eba, accessed 2026-09-10.

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@incollection{qiqcop_op_b0666933a3d77eba,
  title = {Simultaneously optimal queries to both quantum linear-system oracles},
  booktitle = {Quantum Information and Quantum Computation Open Problem Zoo (QIQCOP Zoo)},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://qiqc-op.com/problem/op_b0666933a3d77eba/}},
  note = {Stable ID op_b0666933a3d77eba; status: Unsolved; accessed 2026-09-10}
}

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“Simultaneously optimal queries to both quantum linear-system oracles,” Quantum Information and Quantum Computation Open Problem Zoo (QIQCOP Zoo), https://qiqc-op.com/problem/op_b0666933a3d77eba/, ID op_b0666933a3d77eba, accessed 2026-09-10.

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op_b0666933a3d77eba
01M22P0HX43A7EQD9XKQ1G7QQJ