Improved Quantum Codes with Transversal T Gates

Abstract

In this work, we study quantum CSS codes with transversal $T$ gates. Here, $T$ gate transversality is meant in the strongest sense; the application of physical $T$ to every physical qubit yields logical $T$ on every logical qubit, without Clifford corrections. Despite the importance of the $T$ gate in fault-tolerant quantum computation, the parameters of asymptotic families of such codes have not been improved since the work of Hastings and Haah in 2017, and Haah in 2018. In this work, we significantly broaden the achievable parameters of quantum code families with transversal $T$ gates, both expanding the regime of achievable polynomial rate and distance, and constructing such codes with constant rate and growing distance; this is the first time the latter has been achieved, even when allowing Clifford corrections after the transversal $T$ gate. These are also the first codes achieving $\gamma \to 0$ for a code with a transversal $T$ gate, where $\gamma$ is the overhead exponent of magic state distillation. To do this, we develop a framework of divisible decreasing monomial codes, punctured at a downward-closed set on the Boolean hypercube to create logical qubits. We prove a closed-form expression for the distance of such a code punctured at such a set, which may be of independent interest. We first instantiate this with an explicit construction based on weighted Reed-Muller codes, puncturing at low Hamming-weight points, and then with a randomised construction, where a small random set of points is protected from the puncturing to save quantum code distance, achieving improved parameters.