Fault-tolerant, high-level quantum circuits: form, compilation and description. (14th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paler, Alexandru; Polian, Ilia; Nemoto, Kae; Devitt, Simon J
• Is Part Of: Quantum science and technology. Volume 2:Number 2(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-14
• Subjects: quantum compilation -- quantum software -- topological quantum computing -- quantum error correction -- quantum computing; Quantum theory -- Periodicals; Quantum theory; Periodicals; 530
• DOI: 10.1088/2058-9565/aa66eb
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2058-9565

Abstract

Abstract: Fault-tolerant quantum error correction is a necessity for any quantum architecture destined to tackle interesting, large-scale problems. Its theoretical formalism has been well founded for nearly two decades. However, we still do not have an appropriate compiler to produce a fault-tolerant, error-corrected description from a higher-level quantum circuit for state-of the-art hardware models. There are many technical hurdles, including dynamic circuit constructions that occur when constructing fault-tolerant circuits with commonly used error correcting codes. We introduce a package that converts high-level quantum circuits consisting of commonly used gates into a form employing all decompositions and ancillary protocols needed for fault-tolerant error correction. We call this form the (I)initialisation, (C)NOT, (M)measurement form (ICM) and consists of an initialisation layer of qubits into one of four distinct states, a massive, deterministic array of CNOT operations and a series of time-ordered X - or Z -basis measurements. The form allows a more flexible approach towards circuit optimisation. At the same time, the package outputs a standard circuit or a canonical geometric description which is a necessity for operating current state-of-the-art hardware architectures using topological quantum codes.