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arXiv:1910.03093 · Quantum

A robust W-state encoding for linear quantum optics

Madhav Krishnan Vijayan, Austin P. Lund, Peter P. Rohde

Published Aug 3, 2020• 17 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Error-detection and correction are necessary prerequisites for any scalable quantum computing architecture. Given the inevitability of unwanted physical noise in quantum systems and the propensity for errors to spread as computations proceed, computational outcomes can become substantially corrupted. This observation applies regardless of the choice of physical implementation. In the context of photonic quantum information processing, there has recently been much interest in passive linear optics quantum computing, which includes boson-sampling, as this model eliminates the highly-challenging requirements for feed-forward via fast, active control. That is, these systems are passive by definition. In usual scenarios, error detection and correction techniques are inherently active , making them incompatible with this model, arousing suspicion that physical error processes may be an insurmountable obstacle. Here we explore a photonic error-detection technique, based on W-state encoding of photonic qubits, which is entirely passive, based on post-selection, and compatible with these near-term photonic architectures of interest. We show that this W-state redundant encoding techniques enables the suppression of dephasing noise on photonic qubits via simple fan-out style operations, implemented by optical Fourier transform networks, which can be readily realised today. The protocol effectively maps dephasing noise into heralding failures, with zero failure probability in the ideal no-noise limit. We present our scheme in the context of a single photonic qubit passing through a noisy communication or quantum memory channel, which has not been generalised to the more general context of full quantum computation.

DOI
10.22331/q-2020-08-03-303

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Error-detection and correction are necessary prerequisites for any scalable quantum computing architecture. Given the inevitability of unwanted physical noise in quantum systems and the propensity for errors to spread as computations proceed, computational outcomes can become substantially corrupted. This observation applies regardless of the choice of physical implementation. In the context of photonic quantum information processing, there has recently been much interest in passive linear optics quantum computing, which includes boson-sampling, as this model eliminates the highly-challenging requirements for feed-forward via fast, active control. That is, these systems are passive by definition. In usual scenarios, error detection and correction techniques are inherently active , making them incompatible with this model, arousing suspicion that physical error processes may be an insurmountable obstacle. Here we explore a photonic error-detection technique, based on W-state encoding of photonic qubits, which is entirely passive, based on post-selection, and compatible with these near-term photonic architectures of interest. We show that this W-state redundant encoding techniques enables the suppression of dephasing noise on photonic qubits via simple fan-out style operations, implemented by optical Fourier transform networks, which can be readily realised today. The protocol effectively maps dephasing noise into heralding failures, with zero failure probability in the ideal no-noise limit. We present our scheme in the context of a single photonic qubit passing through a noisy communication or quantum memory channel, which has not been generalised to the more general context of full quantum computation.
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Quantum error correction (QEC) is crucial for realizing practical quantum computation. However, the fragility of quantum states to environmental noise poses a significant challenge. This work proposes a novel approach to QEC utilizing topological qubits encoded within photonic networks. Topological qubits, characterized by their robust topological properties, offer inherent protection against local perturbations, making them ideal candidates for QEC. This architecture combines the advantages of both topological protection and the scalability offered by photonic networks. We present a theoretical framework for implementing a specific QEC code based on these principles, detailing the encoding process, error detection, and correction operations. The proposed system demonstrates enhanced resilience to noise compared to traditional qubit implementations. Key performance metrics, such as the surface code's logical error rate, are analyzed, highlighting the potential of this approach for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation. The core of this method lies in the design of a photonic network tailored to efficiently implement the topological code, addressing limitations encountered in conventional qubit systems. Further investigation explores the impact of network topology and photon loss on the overall performance, proposing strategies for mitigating these effects. This research contributes to the ongoing effort to overcome the challenges of QEC and paves the way for building practical, scalable quantum computers.
Quantum computing is an exciting field that promises great improvements to our ability to solve certain intractable classes of problem. Implementing a quantum computer will require a physical system in which quantum effects are strongly evident. Many different physical systems have been proposed for this task, including ion traps, quantum dots, neutral atoms and photons. This thesis focuses on optical implementations of a quantum computer, and specifically on single-photon designs, as opposed to those utilising coherent states. Photonic systems have shown a great deal of promise for quantum computing tasks since it was shown by Knill, Laflamme and Milburn (KLM) that scalable efficient quantum computing could be performed using only linear optical elements and measurement. This was made viable through the use of error-correcting codes. The work in this thesis covers the use of error-correcting codes in single-photon linear optics quantum computing (LOQC). The central feature of these schemes is the parity code introduced by KLM and used to overcome the gate errors that are inherent in this type of LOQC. First is a discussion of an improved scheme that incorporates the fusion gates used in Browne and Rudolph's cluster state proposal in order to simplify the encoding and gate procedures. This results in high-probability gates with a resource usage comparable to the cluster state schemes. The remainder of the thesis examines the application of further error correcting codes to handle other errors that may arise in any practical implementation of an optical quantum computer. The most significant type of error in any optical system is photon loss, and hence an extension of the parity code is presented that allows loss errors to be detected and corrected. Procedures for performing universal quantum computation whilst employing this encoding are also described. These enable the establishment of loss thresholds for parity-state based LOQC, revealing this code is capable of handling up to 10\% loss in all elements during general computation, or 17\% if it is used solely as an active memory. Although loss is the most common type of optical error, other types of error will also become an issue when attempting to produce large quantum computing systems. An analysis of the error thresholds and resource usage which can be expected when applying a general error correcting code such as the Steane code to this type of LOQC system is also presented. The error thresholds and resource requirements established are greater than those found for cat state optical quantum computing, but fall below those calculated for cluster states. However, the resource requirements of the scheme are significantly smaller than the cluster state requirements for an equivalent circuit. Finally, a new experiment is proposed, achievable with today's technology, for testing the loss-tolerant encoding described earlier. Expansions of the experiment that would demonstrate tolerance of actual experimental error are also discussed.
We propose and investigate a method of error detection and noise correction for bosonic linear networks using a method of unitary averaging. The proposed error averaging does not rely on ancillary photons or control and feedforward correction circuits, remaining entirely passive in its operation. We construct a general mathematical framework for this technique and then give a series of proof of principle examples including numerical analysis. Two methods for the construction of averaging are then compared to determine the most effective manner of implementation and probe the related error thresholds. Finally we discuss some of the potential uses of this scheme.
Physical-level noise on traveling bosonic modes remains a critical bottleneck for scalable quantum information processing. We show that for any single-mode bosonic code (qumode) corrupted by thermal or Gaussian displacement noise at loss rate μμμ and amplification GGG, a hybrid continuous-discrete-variable (CV-DV) interferometer using a single qubit ancilla and two controlled-Fourier (CF) gates sandwiching the noise channel suppresses its effects from linear to quadratic scaling. This is achieved without active error correction or destructive measurements of the encoded state, maintaining high success probabilities ≥0.5\geq 0.5≥0.5 when μG≤0.5μG \leq 0.5μG≤0.5. When supplemented with multiple ancillas, the protocol converts photon loss into coherent Fock-damping, and thermal or displacement noise into a mixture of Fock-diagonal noise. The protocol is entirely code-agnostic. For the special case of 2K2^K2K-fold rotation-symmetric bosonic codes, it simplifies to conventional error detection and projection with KKK ancillas. Suppression with simple gates and few ancillas demonstrates a clear hardware-efficient advantage over previously proposed ``bypass'' schemes, where quantum information transferred to the DV ancillas is readily corrupted by ancilla noise. Finally, we extend the protocol to a qutrit DV ancilla. This demonstrates resilience to both CV noise and composite DV damping noise, achieving a truly hybrid noise suppression scheme that operates effectively even on CV encodings lacking a well-defined photon-number parity syndrome.