No Arabic abstract
We discuss how to significantly reduce leakage errors in topological quantum computation by introducing an irrelevant error in phase, using the construction of a CNOT gate in the Fibonacci anyon model as a concrete example. To be specific, we construct a functional braid in a six-anyon Hilbert space that exchanges two neighboring anyons while conserving the encoded quantum information. The leakage error is $sim$$10^{-10}$ for a braid of $sim$100 interchanges of anyons. Applying the braid greatly reduces the leakage error in the construction of generic controlled-rotation gates.
Topological quantum computation encodes quantum information nonlocally by nucleating non-Abelian anyons separated by distances $L$, typically spanning the qubit device size. This nonlocality renders topological qubits exponentially immune to dephasing from all sources of classical noise with operator support local on the scale of $L$. We perform detailed analytical and numerical analyses of a time-domain Ramsey-type protocol for noisy Majorana-based qubits that is designed to validate this coveted topological protection in near-term devices such as the so-called `tetron design. By assessing dependence of dephasing times on tunable parameters, e.g., magnetic field, our proposed protocol can clearly distinguish a bona fide Majorana qubit from one constructed from semilocal Andreev bound states, which can otherwise closely mimic the true topological scenario in local probes. In addition, we analyze leakage of the qubit out of its low-energy manifold due to classical-noise-induced generation of quasiparticle excitations; leakage limits the qubit lifetime when the bulk gap collapses, and hence our protocol further reveals the onset of a topological phase transition. This experiment requires measurement of two nearby Majorana modes for both initialization and readout---achievable, for example, by tunnel coupling to a nearby quantum dot---but no further Majorana manipulations, and thus constitutes an enticing pre-braiding experiment. Along the way, we address conceptual subtleties encountered when discussing dephasing and leakage in the context of Majorana qubits.
Superconducting circuits offer tremendous design flexibility in the quantum regime culminating most recently in the demonstration of few qubit systems supposedly approaching the threshold for fault-tolerant quantum information processing. Competition in the solid-state comes from semiconductor qubits, where nature has bestowed some very useful properties which can be utilized for spin qubit based quantum computing. Here we begin to explore how selective design principles deduced from spin-based systems could be used to advance superconducting qubit science. We take an initial step along this path proposing an encoded qubit approach realizable with state-of-the-art tunable Josephson junction qubits. Our results show that this design philosophy holds promise, enables microwave-free control, and offers a pathway to future qubit designs with new capabilities such as with higher fidelity or, perhaps, operation at higher temperature. The approach is also especially suited to qubits based on variable super-semi junctions.
Different approaches in quantifying environmentally-induced decoherence are considered. We identify a measure of decoherence, derived from the density matrix of the system of interest, that quantifies the environmentally induced error, i.e., deviation from the ideal isolated-system dynamics. This measure can be shown to have several useful features. Its behavior as a function of time has no dependence on the initial conditions, and is expected to be insensitive to the internal dynamical time scales of the system, thus only probing the decoherence-related time dependence. For a spin-boson model - a prototype of a qubit interacting with environment - we also demonstrate the property of additivity: in the regime of the onset of decoherence, the sum of the individual qubit error measures provides an estimate of the error for a several-qubit system, even if the qubits are entangled, as expected in quantum-computing applications. This makes it possible to estimate decoherence for several-qubits quantum computer gate designs for which explicit calculations are exceedingly difficult.
A spin qubit in semiconductor quantum dots holds promise for quantum information processing for scalability and long coherence time. An important semiconductor qubit system is a double quantum dot trapping two electrons or holes, whose spin states encode either a singlet-triplet qubit or two single-spin qubits coupled by exchange interaction. In this article, we report progress on spin dephasing of two exchange-coupled spins in a double quantum dot. We first discuss the schemes of two-qubit gates and qubit encodings in gate-defined quantum dots or donor atoms based on the exchange interaction. Then, we report the progress on spin dephasing of a singlet-triplet qubit or a two-qubit gate. The methods of suppressing spin dephasing are further discussed. The understanding of spin dephasing may provide insights into the realization of high-fidelity quantum gates for spin-based quantum computing.
The boundary of topological superconductors might lead to the appearance of Majorana edge modes, whose non-trivial exchange statistics can be used for topological quantum computing. In branched nanowire networks one can exchange Majorana states by time-dependently tuning topologically non-trivial parameter regions. In this work, we simulate the exchange of four Majorana modes in T-shaped junctions made out of p-wave superconducting Rashba wires. We derive concrete experimental predictions for (quasi-)adiabatic braiding times and determine geometric conditions for successful Majorana exchange processes. Contrary to the widespread opinion, we show for the first time that in the adiabatic limit the gating time needs to be smaller than the inverse of the squared superconducting order parameter and scales linearly with the gating potential. Further, we show how to circumvent the formation of additional Majorana modes in branched nanowire systems, arising at wire intersection points of narrow junctions. Finally, we propose a multi qubit setup, which allows for universal and in particular topologically protected quantum computing.