Integrating near-term quantum error correction into quantum technologies.

Background

Quantum technologies, by harnessing the powers of quantum mechanics, hold much promise, but this promise is hindered by the inherent fragility of quantum data, and quantum states in general. Quantum error correction is a solution for this, but implementations may be complex. Recent progress in near-term quantum error correction has shown how quantum error correction can be performed in a simple way, using quantum control techniques on permutation-invariant quantum error correction codes.

Objectives

The implementation of quantum error correction procedures are usually considered independently from the quantum technology considered, apart from full-scale quantum computation applications. By optimising the quantum error correction for the specific quantum technology use-case, there is a lot of potential to greatly improve the performance of quantum technologies in the face of decoherence. Quantum technologies considered include (but are not restricted to) quantum computations, quantum sensing, quantum imaging, quantum cryptography, and quantum simulation.

Novelty

The integration of quantum error correction protocols with quantum technologies in general is a nascent research field, and hence there is plenty of potential for novel research in this direction.

Timeliness

The project is timely, because we are not yet at the standard of large-scale reliable quantum computations, andthere is the pressing question of how well we can have our quantum technologies perform in the face of noise at our current level of experimental capabilities.

Method

This is a theory project, and the student should have a solid foundation in linear algebra and calculus. The student should have a strong interest in quantum information theory, and should have a strong background in quantum mechanics.