QuKAN: A Quantum Circuit Born Machine Approach to Quantum Kolmogorov Arnold Networks

Y Yannick Werner A Akash Malemath M Mengxi Liu (CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology) V Vitor Fortes Rey N Nikolaos Palaiodimopoulos P Paul Lukowicz M Maximilian Kiefer-Emmanouilidis

Abstract

Abstract Kolmogorov Arnold Networks (KANs), built upon the Kolmogorov Arnold representation theorem (KAR), have demonstrated promising capabilities in expressing complex functions with fewer neurons. This is achieved by implementing learnable parameters on the edges instead of on the nodes, unlike traditional networks such as Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs). However, KANs potential in quantum machine learning has not yet been well explored. In this work, we present an implementation of these KAN architectures in both hybrid and fully quantum forms using a Quantum Circuit Born Machine (QCBM). We adapt the KAN transfer using pre-trained residual functions, thereby exploiting the representational power of parametrized quantum circuits. In the hybrid model we combine classical KAN components with quantum subroutines, while the fully quantum version the entire architecture of the residual function is translated to a quantum model. We demonstrate the feasibility, interpretability and performance of the proposed Quantum KAN (QuKAN) architecture.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 15, Issue 1
Published October 09, 2025
ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Scientific Reports

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2045-2322 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (7)

Y

Yannick Werner

A

Akash Malemath

M

Mengxi Liu

CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology

V

Vitor Fortes Rey

N

Nikolaos Palaiodimopoulos

P

Paul Lukowicz

M

Maximilian Kiefer-Emmanouilidis