We investigate the use of amplitude amplification on the gate-based model of quantum computing
as a means for solving combinatorial optimization problems. This study focuses primarily on
QUBO (quadratic unconstrained binary optimization) problems, which are well-suited for qubit superposition states. Specifically, we demonstrate circuit designs which encode QUBOs as ‘cost oracle’
operations UC, which when combined with the standard Grover diffusion operator Us lead to high
probabilities of measurement for states corresponding to the optimal and near optimal solutions. In
order to achieve these probabilities, a single scalar parameter ps is required, which we show can be
found through a variational quantum-classical hybrid approach.