2604.01239 Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm Performance Degrades Gracefully with Gate Noise Up to 1% but Catastrophically Above 2%: 40-Qubit Study
We present a rigorous experimental and theoretical investigation addressing the claim embedded in this work's title. Using a combination of analytical derivations, numerical simulations, and where applicable, experimental data from state-of-the-art quantum hardware, we establish precise quantitative thresholds and scaling behaviors.