Algorithms for the Optimization of Quantum Circuits

Abstract

This thesis investigates techniques for the automated optimization of quantum circuits. In the first part we develop an exponential time algorithm for synthesizing minimal depth quantum circuits. We combine this with effective heuristics for reducing the search space, and show how it can be extended to different optimization problems. We then use the algorithm to compute circuits over the Clifford group and T gate for many of the commonly used quantum gates, improving upon the former best known circuits in many cases.

In the second part, we present a polynomial time algorithm for the re-synthesis of CNOT and T gate circuits while reducing the number of phase gates and parallelizing them. We then describe different methods for expanding this algorithm to optimize circuits over Clifford and T gates.