Supervised binary classification of small-scale digits images with a trapped-ion quantum processor

Here we present the results of benchmarking of a quantum processor based on trapped \(^{171}\)Yb\(^{+}\) ions by performing basic quantum machine learning algorithms. Specifically, we carry out a supervised binary classification of small-scale digits images, which are intentionally chosen so that they can be classified with 100% accuracy, using a quantum-enhanced Support Vector Machine algorithm with up to four qubits. In our work, we specifically consider different types of quantum encodings of the dataset and different levels of transpilation optimizations for the corresponding quantum circuits. For each quantum encoding, we obtain a classifier that is of 100% accuracy on both training and test sets, which demonstrates that the quantum processor can correctly solve the basic classification task considered. As we expect, with the increase of the capabilities quantum processors, they can become a useful tool for machine learning.