Quantum Circuit Wire Cutting: A Tutorial Introduction with Classical Reconstruction Methods

Abstract

Quantum circuit cutting is an important technique that enables the execution of quantum circuits exceeding the native capabilities of current quantum hardware. By decomposing a large circuit into smaller sub-circuits, the method allows independent execution on devices with limited qubit resources, followed by classical reconstruc- tion of the global output statistics. In this tutorial article, we present a pedagogical introduction to the wire- cutting approach to quantum circuit cutting. The underlying measurement–initialization framework is derived from the Pauli decomposition of quantum states, and the reconstruction procedure is explained step-by-step. A three-qubit example is used to demonstrate the full workflow, including circuit partitioning, sub-circuit execution, and classical recombination of measurement outcomes. Numerical simulations using Qiskit are provided to validate the reconstruction accuracy. This tutorial aims to provide an accessible entry point for researchers and students seeking to understand and implement circuit cutting techniques for near-term quantum computing.