Quantum Circuit Generation via test-time learning with large language models
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Abstract (arXiv)
Deploying large language models (LLMs) as optimizers for black-box scientific design problems requires efficient test-time refinement under expensive evaluations and without training data. We propose a memory-augmented test-time optimization framework that combines episodic memory of high-scoring candidates, score-difference feedback, and restart-from-best sampling to improve iterative search. We evaluate the approach on quantum circuit synthesis, where the objective is to maximize the Meyer--Wallach (MW) global entanglement measure under an exponentially expensive black-box oracle. On 20-qubit circuits, the framework achieves Q(psi)=0.99 without feedback. On the more challenging 25-qubit task, feedback and restart mechanisms enable multiple runs to reach Q(psi)=1.0 within 45 oracle calls, while a budget-matched random hill-climbing baseline stalls below Q(psi)≈0.29. These results demonstrate that memory and evaluator feedback substantially improve the sample efficiency of LLM-based black-box optimization and establish quantum circuit synthesis as a challenging benchmark for test-time optimization.
Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 24 of its 41 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 3 Feb 2026.
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24 of 41 references.
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12 more
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