Execution and Timing¶

The two main functions for the postprocessing algorithms are the low treewidth graph decomposition and the low treewidth graph solve. Graph decomposition takes place on the postprocessing server during the QPU access time for the previous problem, while the low treewidth solve is interwoven within the QPU duty cycle.

Figure 59 shows how a set of samples are batched and sent through the postprocessing solver as the next batch is being computed by the QPU. The total time spent postprocessing samples is provided in the timing structure as total_post_processing_time. Since all but the last batch are processed during the QPU duty cycle, the additional overhead time for postprocessing, post_processing_overhead_time, corresponds to the time spent processing the final batch.

Diagram showing the breakdown of timing in the D-Wave QPU. The entire span of a current problem is reported as QPU access time. This is divided into two parts: QPU programming time and QPU sampling time. QPU sampling time is further broken down into individual samples (reads), each of which requires anneal time, readout time, and a small QPU delay time per sample. Sampling time may also include postprocessing time if this is enabled for the problem. A small about of postprocessing overhead time is also required for each problem regardless of whether postprocessing is enabled. In summary, the system reports back the following values: QPU access time, QPU sampling time, QPU anneal time per sample, QPU readout time per sample, QPU delay time per sample, total postprocessing time, and postprocessing overhead time.

Fig. 59 D-Wave QPU timing structure

For more details about the timing structure, see Measuring Computation Time on D-Wave Systems.