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Context-aware unit testing for quantum subroutines

delete2026-04-30
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PRE
AI
M
Mykhailo V. Klymenko *
T
Thong Hoang
S
Samuel A Wilkinson
B
Bahar Goldozian
S
Suyu Ma
X
Xiwei Xu
Q
Qinghua Lu
M
Muhammad Usman
L
Liming Zhu
DOI:10.1088/2058-9565/ae629edelete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Software testing is a critical component of the classical software development lifecycle, and this principle is expected to hold true for quantum software as it evolves toward large-scale production and adherence to industry standards. Developing and testing quantum software presents unique challenges due to the non-deterministic nature of quantum information, the high dimensionality of the underlying Hilbert space, complex hardware noise, and the inherent non-local properties of quantum systems. In this work, we propose a unifying theoretical framework based on probabilistic assertions, which encompasses several testing approaches—such as quantum tomography and statistical tests—for developing practical unit tests for quantum subroutines. The framework is built upon the semantic equivalence between quantum subroutines and parameterized quantum channels, as established in this work. To address the computational complexity associated with unit testing in quantum systems, we propose incorporating context-awareness into the testing process. The trade-offs between accuracy, state space coverage, and efficiency associated with the proposed theoretical framework for quantum unit testing have been demonstrated through its application to a simple three-qubit quantum subroutine that prepares a Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger state, as well as to subroutines within a program implementing Shor’s algorithm.
Keywords:
quantum software testing
probabilistic assertions
quantum subroutines
unit testing
context-awareness

Journal

Quantum Science and Technology cover
Quantum Science and Technology
IF:
5
Papers:
1.4K
Citations:
5.1K

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C
csiro
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Papers: 454
Citations: 0
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