High-threshold decoding of non-Pauli codes for 2D universality

Abstract

Topological codes have many desirable properties that allow fault-tolerant quantum computation with relatively low overhead. A core challenge for these codes, however, is to achieve a low-overhead universal gate set with limited connectivity. In this work, we explore a non-Pauli stabilizer code that can be used to complete a universal gate set on topological toric and surface codes in strictly two dimensions. Fault-tolerant syndrome extraction for the non-Pauli code requires mid-circuit $X$ corrections, a key difference to conventional Pauli codes. We construct and benchmark a just-in-time (JIT) matching decoder to reliably decide these corrections. Under a phenomenological error model with equally likely physical and measurement errors, we find a high threshold of $\approx 2.5\,\%$, close to the $\approx 2.9\,\%$ of a decoder with access to the full syndrome history. We also perform a finite-size scaling analysis to estimate how the logical error rate scales below threshold and verify an exponential suppression in both physical error rate and in the system size. A second global decoding step for $Z$ errors is required and the non-Clifford gates in the circuit reduce the threshold from $\approx 2.9\,\%$ to $\approx 1.8\,\%$ with a naive decoder. We show how $Z$ decoding can be improved using knowledge of the $X$ corrections, pushing the threshold to $\approx 2.2\,\%$. Our results suggest non-Clifford logic in 2D codes could perform comparably to 2D quantum memory. Our formalism for efficient benchmarking and decoding directly generalizes to a broader family of CSS codes whose $X$ stabilizers are twisted by diagonal Clifford operators, and spacetime versions thereof, defined by CSS-like circuits enriched by $CCZ$, $CS$, and $T$ gates.