Constraint-Aware Quantum Optimization: Theoretical Foundations for Preserving Problem Structure in QUBO Formulations

Constraint-Aware Quantum Optimization: Theoretical Foundations for Preserving Problem Structure in QUBO Formulations | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 10 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Constraint-Aware Quantum Optimization: Theoretical Foundations for Preserving Problem Structure in QUBO Formulations Author : Jeffrey Cordova 0009-0007-8283-9641 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176281775.54421198/v1 269 views 162 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract This paper establishes a theoretical framework for constraint-preserving quantum optimization that maintains problem structure throughout quantum algorithm execution, addressing a fundamental challenge in translating real-world optimization problems to quantum hardware. We develop mathematical formulations that embed hard constraints directly into quantum circuit design rather than relying solely on penalty methods, proving that certain constraint classes can be exactly enforced through quantum state space restriction. Our theory characterizes the complexity of constraint preservation across different problem classes including facility location, network optimization, and resource allocation, deriving conditions under which quantum algorithms can explore only feasible solution spaces. We introduce automated repair mechanisms with theoretical guarantees on convergence to valid solutions and establish bounds on the additional quantum resources required for constraint maintenance. The framework provides rigorous analysis of trade-offs between constraint flexibility, quantum circuit depth, and solution quality, identifying problem structures amenable to efficient constraint-preserving quantum formulations. We extend the theory to socioeconomic weighting and multi-objective scenarios, proving that preference structures can be incorporated without compromising feasibility guarantees. This theoretical foundation advances practical quantum optimization by ensuring quantum algorithms produce implementable solutions while maintaining provable performance characteristics across diverse constrained optimization domains including logistics, energy systems, and infrastructure planning. Supplementary Material File (constraint aware qaoa.pdf) Download 266.32 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 10 November 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Keywords adiabatic computing deep learning engineering optimization optimization algorithms qaoa quantum algorithms quantum computing quantum machine learning quantum networks quantum optimization Authors Affiliations Jeffrey Cordova 0009-0007-8283-9641 [email protected] Universidad Autónoma de Madrid View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 269 views 162 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Jeffrey Cordova. Constraint-Aware Quantum Optimization: Theoretical Foundations for Preserving Problem Structure in QUBO Formulations. Authorea . 10 November 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176281775.54421198/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.176281775.54421198/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'a0033f2b893cdf88',t:'MTc3OTUzMDc3NA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();