Researchers from IBM Quantum and MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab have developed a quantum error correction protocol that implements fault-tolerant memory. The protocol uses a family of Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes with a high encoding rate, achieving an error threshold of 0.8% for the standard circuit-based noise model. This is comparable to the surface code, which has been the leader in terms of its high error threshold for nearly 20 years. The researchers argue that their findings bring demonstrations of a low-overhead fault-tolerant quantum memory within the reach of near-term quantum processors.
“Quantum error correction becomes a practical possibility only if the physical error rate is below a threshold value that depends on a particular quantum code, syndrome measurement circuit, and a decoding algorithm. Here we present an end-to-end quantum error correction protocol that implements fault-tolerant memory based on a family of LDPC codes with a high encoding rate that achieves an error threshold of 0.8% for the standard circuit-based noise model.”
Sergey Bravyi, Andrew W. Cross, Jay M. Gambetta, Dmitri Maslov, Patrick Rall, and Theodore J. Yoder
Quantum Error Correction Protocol
A team of researchers from IBM Quantum have developed a quantum error correction protocol that implements fault-tolerant memory based on a family of LDPC codes. This protocol achieves an error threshold of 0.8% for the standard circuit-based noise model. This is comparable to the surface code, which has been the standard for high error threshold for nearly two decades. The protocol requires a specific qubit connectivity, a degree-6 graph that consists of two edge-disjoint planar subgraphs.
The researchers argue that achieving the same level of error suppression on 12 logical qubits with the surface code would require more than 4000 physical qubits. Their findings bring demonstrations of a low-overhead fault-tolerant quantum memory within the
Quick Summary
Scientists have developed a quantum error correction protocol that can implement fault-tolerant memory with a high encoding rate, achieving an error threshold of 0.8%. This advancement could bring the demonstration of low-overhead fault-tolerant quantum memory within the reach of near-term quantum processors.
- A team of researchers from IBM Quantum and MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab have developed a new quantum error correction protocol that could make quantum computing more practical.
- The protocol is based on a family of Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes, which have a high encoding rate and can achieve an error threshold of 0.8%.
- This is comparable to the surface code, which has been the leading method for error correction in quantum computing for nearly 20 years.
- The new protocol requires fewer physical qubits than the surface code, making it more efficient.
- For example, the researchers showed that 12 logical qubits can be preserved for ten million syndrome cycles using 288 physical qubits, compared to more than 4000 physical qubits required by the surface code.
- The researchers believe that their findings could bring the demonstration of a low-overhead fault-tolerant quantum memory within the reach of near-term quantum processors.
- The team included: Sergey Bravyi, Andrew W. Cross, Jay M. Gambetta, Dmitri Maslov, Patrick Rall and Theodore J. Yoder
