Quantum annealer accelerates the variational quantum eigensolver in a triple-hybrid algorithm

Hybrid algorithms that combine quantum and classical resources have become commonplace in quantum computing. The variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) is routinely used to solve prototype problems. Currently, hybrid algorithms use no more than one kind of quantum computer connected to a classical computer. In this work, a novel triple-hybrid algorithm combines the effective use of a classical computer, a gate-based quantum computer, and a quantum annealer. The solution of a graph coloring problem found using a quantum annealer reduces the resources needed from a gate-based quantum computer to accelerate VQE by allowing simultaneous measurements within commuting groups of Pauli operators. We experimentally validate our algorithm by evaluating the ground state energy of H$_2$ using different IBM Q devices and the DWave Advantage system requiring only half the resources of standard VQE. Other larger problems we consider exhibit even more significant VQE acceleration. Several examples of algorithms are provided to further motivate a new field of multi-hybrid algorithms that leverage different kinds of quantum computers to gain performance improvements.