Hybrid Classical-Quantum Systems: The Unsung Heroes of the NISQ Era

SayedMahbubHasan  Amiri,Zahan  Atiar

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Hybrid Classical-Quantum Systems: The Unsung Heroes of the NISQ Era

S. Amiri,

Z. Atiar

2026-08-12

https://doi.org/10.24108/preprints-3116155

The Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, defined by qubit counts in the hundreds and gate error rates that preclude long coherence times, imposes severe constraints on purely quantum computation. The central problem is that achieving practical quantum advantage for real-world tasks must overcome these hardware limitations, yet fault-tolerant quantum computers with full error correction remain years away. To address this, we present a systematic survey of hybrid classical-quantum computing models, in which classical high-performance resources orchestrate the workflow, perform iterative optimization, and apply error mitigation to noisy quantum processing units. Our review encompasses variational quantum algorithms, such as the variational quantum eigensolver and quantum approximate optimization algorithm; classical optimizers tailored for noisy quantum landscapes; error mitigation techniques including zero-noise extrapolation and probabilistic error cancellation; and circuit knitting that partitions large circuits across small QPUs. We find that these hybrid architectures have already demonstrated domain-specific utility in quantum chemistry for molecular ground-state estimation, in logistics and finance for combinatorial optimization, and in machine learning for generative and recommendation models. Notably, they often surpass purely classical or purely quantum approaches on carefully chosen benchmarks. The evidence indicates that hybrid classical-quantum systems are not a temporary stopgap but a durable paradigm. Their role will persist into the early fault-tolerant era, where small, logical qubits will similarly require classical coordination. Consequently, the field urgently demands the establishment of standardized hybrid performance benchmarks, the maturation of robust quantum-classical middleware capable of efficient transpiration and execution management, and holistic co-design frameworks that seamlessly integrate hardware constraints, software stack layers, and application-specific requirements from the outset.

Ссылка для цитирования:

Amiri S., Atiar Z. 2026. Hybrid Classical-Quantum Systems: The Unsung Heroes of the NISQ Era. PREPRINTS.RU. https://doi.org/10.24108/preprints-3116155

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