On the freedom in representing quantum operations

ORAL

Abstract

We discuss the effects of a gauge freedom in representing quantum information processing devices, and its implications for characterizing these devices. We demonstrate with experimentally relevant examples that there exists equally valid descriptions of the same experiment which distribute errors differently among objects in a gate-set, leading to different error rates. Consequently, it can be misleading to attach a concrete operational meaning to figures of merit for individual gate-set elements. We propose an alternative operational figure of merit for a gate-set, the mean variation error, and a protocol for measuring this figure.

*This research was supported by the U.S. Army Research Office through grant W911NF-14-1-0103, the Government of Ontario, and the Government of Canada through CFREF, NSERC and Industry Canada.

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Presenters

  • Junan Lin

    • University of Waterloo

Authors

  • Junan Lin

    • University of Waterloo

  • Brandon Buonacorsi

    • Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Canada
    • University of Waterloo

  • Raymond Laflamme

    • University of Waterloo

  • Joel Wallman

    • University of Waterloo, Quantum Benchmark
    • University of Waterloo
    • University of Waterloo; Quantum Benchmark Inc.
    • Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo