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Assignment 2

This document outlines a tutorial on Quantum Error Correction, covering topics such as fidelity between quantum states, worst-case fidelity in quantum channels, dual-rail codes, conditions for error correction and detection, and QEC conditions in the stabilizer framework. It includes mathematical definitions, proofs, and examples related to quantum states and error correction codes. The tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of advanced concepts in quantum computing and quantum information theory.

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Bhushan Waghade
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20 views3 pages

Assignment 2

This document outlines a tutorial on Quantum Error Correction, covering topics such as fidelity between quantum states, worst-case fidelity in quantum channels, dual-rail codes, conditions for error correction and detection, and QEC conditions in the stabilizer framework. It includes mathematical definitions, proofs, and examples related to quantum states and error correction codes. The tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of advanced concepts in quantum computing and quantum information theory.

Uploaded by

Bhushan Waghade
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Department of Physics

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras


PH5842 Advanced Topics in QCQI

Tutorial 2 Quantum Error Correction I 6 March 2025

1. Fidelity:
The fidelity between two quantum states ρ, σ is defined as
√ √
q
F (ρ, σ) = Tr ρσ ρ.

(i) Show that F (ρ, σ) = 1 when ρ = σ and F (ρ, σ) = 0 when ρ and σ


have support on orthogonal vector spaces.
(ii) We will next show that the fidelity is symmetric in its two arguments,
though this symmetry is not apparent in the definition. To see this,
first show that, q √
√
F (ρ, σ) = ∥ σ ρ ∥1 ,
where ∥ A ∥1 is the L1 -norm defined as,
√
∥ A ∥1 = Tr|A|, |A| ≡ A† A.

Then, show that F is symmetric by showing that the L1 -norm is sym-


metric: that is, for a pair of Hermitian operators A, B the L1 -norm
satisfies
∥ AB ∥1 =∥ BA ∥1 .
(iii) For a pair of qubit states ρ, σ with corresponding Bloch vectors ⃗r, ⃗s,
show that the fidelity is given by
1 p 
F (ρ, σ) = 1 + ⃗r.⃗s + (1 − ⃗r.⃗r)(1 − ⃗s.⃗s) .
2
2. Worst-case fidelity:
Consider the fidelity between an initial pure state |ψ⟩ and the final state ρ =
E(|ψ⟩⟨ψ|) after the action of a quantum channel E. The worst-case fidelity is
defined as the minimum fidelity obtained by minimizing the fidelity function
over all pure, initial states:
p
min F (|ψ⟩, ρ) = min ⟨ψ|E(|ψ⟩⟨|)|ψ⟩.
|ψ⟩ |ψ⟩

How well an error correcting code preserves quantum states can be esti-
mated by comparing the worst-case fidelities with and without error cor-
rection.
(i) Compute the worst-case fidelity for a single-qubit system under the
action of a phase flip channel, with noise parameter p. Show that
the worst-case fidelity improves if the single-qubit is encoded via the
3-qubit repetition code with logical states |0⟩L = | + ++⟩ and |1⟩L =
| − −−⟩, by estimating a lower bound on the worst-case fidelity, post
QEC.
(ii) Compute the worst-case fidelity for a single-qubit system under the
action of a symmetric depolarizing channel with noise parameter p.
Show that the worst-case fidelity improves if the single-qubit is en-
coded via the 9-qubit Shor code, by estimating a lower bound on the
worst-case fidelity, post QEC.

3. Dual-rail Code
Recall that the quantum amplitude-damping channel is defined by two
Kraus operators, given by,
   √ 
1 √ 0 0 p
E0 = , E1 = .
0 1−p 0 0

Consider a two-qubit state of the form, |ψ⟩ = a|01⟩+b|10⟩, with |a|2 +|b|2 =
1. Show that the action of the two-qubit amplitude damping channel on
this state can be represented by two Kraus operators, of the form,
p √ √
Ẽ0 = 1 − γI; Ẽ1 = γ (|00⟩⟨01|) ; Ẽ2 = γ (|00⟩⟨10|) .

Hence argue that the span of {|01⟩, |10⟩} forms an error detection code for
amplitude-damping noise.

4. Conditions for error correction and error detection:


Recall that a set of errors {Ea , a = 1, 2, . . . , N } is correctable by a code C
with projector P if and only if,

P Ea† Eb P = cab P, ∀a, b = 1, 2, . . . , N,

where cab forms a Hermitian matrix.

(i) For an m-dimensional error correcting code with logical states


{|i⟩L , i = 0, 1, . . . , m − 1}, show that the QEC conditions are satisfied
if and only if,
⟨iL |Ea† Eb |jL ⟩ = cab δij , (1)
for all i, j ∈ [0, m − 1].
(ii) An error Ea is said to detectable by a code C if the action of the error
leads to a state in a subspace orthogonal to the codespace. Show that
the set of errors {Ea } are detectable by a code with codewords {|iL ⟩}
if they satisfy,
⟨iL |Ea |jL ⟩ = αa δij , (2)
for all i, j ∈ [0, m − 1].
(iii) The distance d of a code is the minimum weight of a Pauli opera-
tor E such that, ⟨iL |E|jL ⟩ =
̸ αδij . Using the conditions derived in
Eqs. (1), (2) above, show that a QEC code with distance d = 2t + 1
can correct for (Pauli) errors on at most t qubits. Also show that a
code with distance d = t + 1 can detect (Pauli) errors on at most t
qubits.

5. QEC conditions in the stabilizer framework:

(i) Show that the [5, 1, 3] stabilizer code with generators

⟨XZZXI, IXZZX, XIXZZ, ZXIXZ⟩

satisfies the quantum error correction conditions for the set of single-
qubit error operators {I, Xi , Yi , Zi }, with the index i = 1, 2, . . . , 5 la-
beling each of the seven encoding qubits.
(ii) Show that the [7, 1, 3] stabilizer code with generators

⟨IIIXXXX, IXXIIXX, XIXIXIX, IIIZZZZ, IZZIIZZ, ZIZIZIZ⟩

satisfies the quantum error correction conditions for the set of single-
qubit error operators {I, Xi , Yi , Zi }, with the index i = 1, 2, . . . , 7 la-
beling each of the seven encoding qubits.

6. Measuring a stabilizer
Prove that, for any Pauli operator G, the following quantum circuit imple-
ments a measurement of the operator G on the input state |ψ⟩. The meter
indicates a measurement in the standard ({|0⟩, |1⟩}) basis.

|0⟩ H • H
|ψ⟩ G

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