Perturbative quantum error correction

We derive simple necessary and sufficient conditions under which a quantum channel obtained from an arbitrary perturbation from the identity can be reversed on a given code to the lowest order in fidelity. We find the usual Knill-Laflamme conditions applied to a certain operator subspace which, for a generic perturbation, is generated by the Lindblad operators. For a weak interaction with an environment, the error space to be corrected is a subspace of that spanned by the interaction operators, selected by the environment's initial state.     

Automatic quantum error correction

Criteria are given by which dissipative evolution in the weak coupling limit can transfer populations and coherences between quantum subspaces, without a loss of coherence. The result is a form of quantum error correction implemented by the joint evolution of a system with a cold bath. It requires no external intervention and, in principle, no ancilla. An example of such a system, consisting of three dipole ordered spin 1/2 particles in a resonator, is given. The qubit, or the triple quantum coherence of the spins, is protected against all spin-flip errors.     

Unified and generalized approach to quantum error correction

We present a unified approach to quantum error correction, called operator quantum error correction. Our scheme relies on a generalized notion of a noiseless subsystem that is investigated here. By combining the active error correction with this generalized noiseless subsystems method, we arrive at a unified approach which incorporates the known techniques--i.e., the standard error correction model, the method of decoherence-free subspaces, and the noiseless subsystem method--as special cases. Moreover, we demonstrate that the quantum error correction condition from the standard model is a necessary condition for all known methods of quantum error correction.     

Quantum error correction in spatially correlated quantum noise

We consider quantum error correction of quantum noise that is created by a local interaction of qubits with a common bosonic bath. The possible exchange of bath bosons between qubits gives rise to spatial and temporal correlations in the noise. We find that these kinds of noise correlations have a strong negative impact on quantum error correction.     

Robust quantum error correction via convex optimization

We present a semidefinite program optimization approach to quantum error correction that yields codes and recovery procedures that are robust against significant variations in the noise channel. Our approach allows us to optimize the encoding, recovery, or both, and is amenable to approximations that significantly improve computational cost while retaining fidelity. We illustrate our theory numerically for optimized 5-qubit codes, using the standard [5,1,3] code as a benchmark. Our optimized encoding and recovery yields fidelities that are uniformly higher by 1-2 orders of magnitude against random unitary weight-2 errors compared to the [5,1,3] code with standard recovery.     

Passive quantum error correction with linear optics

Recently it was proposed by Kalamidas in [D. Kalamidas, Phys. Lett. A 343 (2005) 331] an optical set-up able to correct single qubit errors using Pockels cells. In this work, we present a different set-up able to realize error correction passively, in the sense that none external action is needed.     

Stabilizer formalism for operator quantum error correction

Operator quantum error correction is a recently developed theory that provides a generalized and unified framework for active error correction and passive error avoiding schemes. In this Letter, we describe these codes using the stabilizer formalism. This is achieved by adding a gauge group to stabilizer codes that defines an equivalence class between encoded states. Gauge transformations leave the encoded information unchanged; their effect is absorbed by virtual gauge qubits that do not carry useful information. We illustrate the construction by identifying a gauge symmetry in Shor's 9-qubit code that allows us to remove 3 of its 8 stabilizer generators, leading to a simpler decoding procedure and a wider class of logical operations without affecting its essential properties. This opens the path to possible improvements of the error threshold of fault-tolerant quantum computing.     

All linear optical quantum memory based on quantum error correction

When photons are sent through a fiber as part of a quantum communication protocol, the error that is most difficult to correct is photon loss. Here we propose and analyze a two-to-four qubit encoding scheme, which can recover the loss of one qubit in the transmission. This device acts as a repeater, when it is placed in series to cover a distance larger than the attenuation length of the fiber, and it acts as an optical quantum memory, when it is inserted in a fiber loop. We call this dual-purpose device a "quantum transponder."     

Decoherence by correlated noise and quantum error correction

We study the decoherence of a quantum computer in an environment which is inherently correlated in time and space. We first derive the nonunitary time evolution of the computer and environment in the presence of a stabilizer error correction code, providing a general way to quantify decoherence for a quantum computer. The general theory is then applied to the spin-boson model. Our results demonstrate that effects of long-range correlations can be systematically reduced by small changes in the error correction codes.     

Theory of quantum error correction for general noise

A measure of quality of an error-correcting code is the maximum number of errors that it is able to correct. We show that a suitable notion of "number of errors" e makes sense for any quantum or classical system in the presence of arbitrary interactions. Thus, e-error-correcting codes protect information without requiring the usual assumptions of independence. We prove the existence of large codes for both quantum and classical information. By viewing error-correcting codes as subsystems, we relate codes to irreducible representations of operator algebras and show that noiseless subsystems are infinite-distance error-correcting codes.     

Secure deterministic communication in a quantum loss channel using quantum error correction code

The loss of a quantum channel leads to an irretrievable particle loss as well as information. In this paper, the loss of quantum channel is analysed and a method is put forward to recover the particle and information loss effectively using universal quantum error correction. Then a secure direct communication scheme is proposed, such that in a loss channel the information that an eavesdropper can obtain would be limited to arbitrarily small when the code is properly chosen and the correction operation is properly arranged.     

Loss tolerance in one-way quantum computation via counterfactual error correction

We introduce a scheme for fault tolerantly dealing with losses (or other "leakage" errors) in cluster state computation that can tolerate up to 50% qubit loss. This is achieved passively using an adaptive strategy of measurement--no coherent measurements or coherent correction is required. Since the scheme relies on inferring information about what would have been the outcome of a measurement had one been able to carry it out, we call this counterfactual error correction.     

Single-photon quantum error rejection and correction with linear optics

We present single-photon schemes for quantum error rejection and correction with linear optics. In stark contrast with other known proposals, our schemes do not require multi-photon entangled states, are not probabilistic, and their application is not restricted to single bit-flip errors.     

Generalization of quantum error correction via the Heisenberg picture

We show that the theory of operator quantum error correction can be naturally generalized by allowing constraints not only on states but also on observables. The resulting theory describes the correction of algebras of observables (and may therefore suitably be called "operator algebra quantum error correction"). In particular, the approach provides a framework for the correction of hybrid quantum-classical information and it does not require the state to be entirely in one of the corresponding subspaces or subsystems. We discuss applications to quantum teleportation and to the study of information flows in quantum interactions.     

Low-overhead fault-tolerant error correction scheme based on quantum stabilizer codes

Fault-tolerant error-correction (FTEC) circuit is the foundation for achieving reliable quantum computation and remote communication. However, designing a fault-tolerant error correction scheme with a solid error-correction ability and low overhead remains a significant challenge. In this paper, a low-overhead fault-tolerant error correction scheme is proposed for quantum communication systems. Firstly, syndrome ancillas are prepared into Bell states to detect errors caused by channel noise. We propose a detection approach that reduces the propagation path of quantum gate fault and reduces the circuit depth by splitting the stabilizer generator into X-type and Z-type. Additionally, a syndrome extraction circuit is equipped with two flag qubits to detect quantum gate faults, which may also introduce errors into the code block during the error detection process. Finally, analytical results are provided to demonstrate the fault-tolerant performance of the proposed FTEC scheme with the lower overhead of the ancillary qubits and circuit depth.     

Limits to the universality of quantum mechanics

Niels Bohr's arguments indicating the non-applicability of quantum methodology to the study of the ultimate details of life, given in his bookAtomic Physics and Human Knowledge, conflict with the commonly held opposite view. The bases for the usual beliefs are examined and shown to have little validity; significant differences do exist between the living organism and the type of system studied successfully in the physics laboratory. Dealing with living organisms in quantum-mechanical terms with the same degree of rigor as is normal for non-living systems would seem not to be possible without considering also questions of the origins of life and of the universe.     

Semiclassical field theory approach to quantum chaos

We construct a field theory to describe energy averaged quantum statistical properties of systems which are chaotic in their classical limit. An expression for the generating function of general statistical correlators is presented in the form of a functional supermatrix non-linear σ-model where the effective action involves the evolution operator of the classical dynamics. Low-lying degrees of freedom of the field theory are shown to reflect the irreversible classical dynamics describing relaxation of phase space distributions. The validity of this approach is investigated over a wide range of energy scales. As well as recovering the universal long-time behavior characteristic of random matrix ensembles, this approach accounts correctly for the short-time limit yielding results which agree with the diagonal approximation of periodic orbit theory.