arXiv subjects

Niel de Beaudrap

Publications and source records attributed to Niel de Beaudrap.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

String Diagrams for Defect-Based Surface Code Computing

Surface codes are a popular choice for implementing fault-tolerant quantum computing. Two-qubit gates may be realised in these codes using only nearest-neighbour interactions, either by lattice surgery or by braiding defects around each other. The effect of lattice surgery operations may be simply described using the ZX-calculus: a graphical language that has proven effective for program design and optimisation. In this work, we formalise a similar description via the ZX-calculus of defect braiding, as it is conventionally described. We define a graphical calculus KNOT, denoting the logical effects (in the absence of byproduct operations) of defect braiding in surface codes: we show how these effects may be described via a fragment of ZX-calculus which we call the (0, pi)-fragment. We then use a doubling construction to define a subtheory of KNOT, more specialised to standard encoding techniques in the defect braiding literature. Within this subtheory, we encompass standard braiding techniques by families of ribbon-like and tangle-like diagrams, each with semantics distinct from KNOT, in terms of the (0, pi)-fragment of ZX diagrams (again in the absence of byproducts). These subtheories may be used interoperably, and are each sound and complete for the (0, pi)-fragment of ZX diagrams. This provides a starting point to use the formal diagrammatics to analyse the operational effects of defect braiding procedures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

On numerical diameters and linear maps

This paper studies the diameter of the numerical range of bounded operators on Hilbert space and the induced seminorm, called the numerical diameter, on bounded linear maps between operator systems which is sensible in the case of unital maps and their scalar multiples. It is shown that the completely bounded numerical diameter is a norm that is comparable but not equal to the completely bounded norm. This norm is particularly interesting in the case of unital completely positive maps and their sections.

math.FA↗

arXiv2024

Simple qudit ZX and ZH calculi, via integrals

The ZX calculus and ZH calculus use diagrams to denote and compute properties of quantum operations, using `rewrite rules' to transform between diagrams which denote the same operator through a functorial semantic map. Different semantic maps give rise to different rewrite systems, which may prove more convenient for different purposes. Using discrete measures, we describe semantic maps for ZX and ZH diagrams, well-suited to analyse unitary circuits and measurements on qudits of any fixed dimension D>1 as a single `ZXH-calculus'. We demonstrate rewrite rules for the `stabiliser fragment' of the ZX calculus and a `multicharacter fragment' of the ZH calculus.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Fast Stabiliser Simulation with Quadratic Form Expansions

This paper builds on the idea of simulating stabiliser circuits through transformations of quadratic form expansions. This is a representation of a quantum state which specifies a formula for the expansion in the standard basis, describing real and imaginary relative phases using a degree-2 polynomial over the integers. We show how, with deft management of the quadratic form expansion representation, we may simulate individual stabiliser operations in $O(n^2)$ time matching the overall complexity of other simulation techniques [arXiv:quant-ph/0406196, arXiv:quant-ph/0504117, arXiv:1808.00128]. Our techniques provide economies of scale in the time to simulate simultaneous measurements of all (or nearly all) qubits in the standard basis. Our techniques also allow single-qubit measurements with deterministic outcomes to be simulated in constant time. We also describe throughout how these bounds may be tightened when the expansion of the state in the standard basis has relatively few terms (has low 'rank'), or can be specified by sparse matrices. Specifically, this allows us to simulate a 'local' stabiliser syndrome measurement in time $O(n)$, for a stabiliser code subject to Pauli noise -- matching what is possible using techniques developed by Gidney [arXiv:2103.02202] without the need to store which operations have thus far been simulated.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

OpenQASM 3: A broader and deeper quantum assembly language

Quantum assembly languages are machine-independent languages that traditionally describe quantum computation in the circuit model. Open quantum assembly language (OpenQASM 2) was proposed as an imperative programming language for quantum circuits based on earlier QASM dialects. In principle, any quantum computation could be described using OpenQASM 2, but there is a need to describe a broader set of circuits beyond the language of qubits and gates. By examining interactive use cases, we recognize two different timescales of quantum-classical interactions: real-time classical computations that must be performed within the coherence times of the qubits, and near-time computations with less stringent timing. Since the near-time domain is adequately described by existing programming frameworks, we choose in OpenQASM 3 to focus on the real-time domain, which must be more tightly coupled to the execution of quantum operations. We add support for arbitrary control flow as well as calling external classical functions. In addition, we recognize the need to describe circuits at multiple levels of specificity, and therefore we extend the language to include timing, pulse control, and gate modifiers. These new language features create a multi-level intermediate representation for circuit development and optimization, as well as control sequence implementation for calibration, characterization, and error mitigation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Circuit Extraction for ZX-diagrams can be #P-hard

The ZX-calculus is a graphical language for reasoning about quantum computation using ZX-diagrams, a certain flexible generalisation of quantum circuits that can be used to represent linear maps from $m$ to $n$ qubits for any $m,n \geq 0$. Some applications for the ZX-calculus, such as quantum circuit optimisation and synthesis, rely on being able to efficiently translate a ZX-diagram back into a quantum circuit of comparable size. While several sufficient conditions are known for describing families of ZX-diagrams that can be efficiently transformed back into circuits, it has previously been conjectured that the general problem of circuit extraction is hard. That is, that it should not be possible to efficiently convert an arbitrary ZX-diagram describing a unitary linear map into an equivalent quantum circuit. In this paper we prove this conjecture by showing that the circuit extraction problem is #P-hard, and so is itself at least as hard as strong simulation of quantum circuits. In addition to our main hardness result, which relies specifically on the circuit representation, we give a representation-agnostic hardness result. Namely, we show that any oracle that takes as input a ZX-diagram description of a unitary and produces samples of the output of the associated quantum computation enables efficient probabilistic solutions to NP-complete problems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Well-tempered ZX and ZH Calculi

The ZX calculus is a mathematical tool to represent and analyse quantum operations by manipulating diagrams which in effect represent tensor networks. Two families of nodes of these networks are ones which commute with either Z rotations or X rotations, usually called "green nodes" and "red nodes" respectively. The original formulation of the ZX calculus was motivated in part by properties of the algebras formed by the green and red nodes: notably, that they form a bialgebra -- but only up to scalar factors. As a consequence, the diagram transformations and notation for certain unitary operations involve "scalar gadgets" which denote contributions to a normalising factor. We present renormalised generators for the ZX calculus, which form a bialgebra precisely. As a result, no scalar gadgets are required to represent the most common unitary transformations, and the corresponding diagram transformations are generally simpler. We also present a similar renormalised version of the ZH calculus. We obtain these results by an analysis of conditions under which various "idealised" rewrites are sound, leveraging the existing presentations of the ZX and ZH calculi.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Tensor Network Rewriting Strategies for Satisfiability and Counting

We provide a graphical treatment of SAT and #SAT on equal footing. Instances of #SAT can be represented as tensor networks in a standard way. These tensor networks are interpreted by diagrams of the ZH-calculus: a system to reason about tensors over C in terms of diagrams built from simple generators, in which computation may be carried out by transformations of diagrams alone. In general, nodes of ZH diagrams take parameters over C which determine the tensor coefficients; for the standard representation of #SAT instances, the coefficients take the value 0 or 1. Then, by choosing the coefficients of a diagram to range over B, we represent the corresponding instance of SAT. Thus, by interpreting a diagram either over the boolean semiring or the complex numbers, we instantiate either the decision or counting version of the problem. We find that for classes known to be in P, such as 2SAT and #XORSAT, the existence of appropriate rewrite rules allows for efficient simplification of the diagram, producing the solution in polynomial time. In contrast, for classes known to be NP-complete, such as 3SAT, or #P-complete, such as #2SAT, the corresponding rewrite rules introduce hyperedges to the diagrams, in numbers which are not easily bounded above by a polynomial. This diagrammatic approach unifies the diagnosis of the complexity of CSPs and #CSPs and shows promise in aiding tensor network contraction-based algorithms.

cs.CC↗

arXiv2021

On efficiently solvable cases of Quantum k-SAT

The constraint satisfaction problems k-SAT and Quantum k-SAT (k-QSAT) are canonical NP-complete and QMA_1-complete problems (for k>=3), respectively, where QMA_1 is a quantum generalization of NP with one-sided error. Whereas k-SAT has been well-studied for special tractable cases, as well as from a parameterized complexity perspective, much less is known in similar settings for k-QSAT. Here, we study the open problem of computing satisfying assignments to k-QSAT instances which have a "matching" or "dimer covering"; this is an NP problem whose decision variant is trivial, but whose search complexity remains open. Our results fall into three directions, all of which relate to the "matching" setting: (1) We give a polynomial-time classical algorithm for k-QSAT when all qubits occur in at most two clauses. (2) We give a parameterized algorithm for k-QSAT instances from a certain non-trivial class, which allows us to obtain exponential speedups over brute force methods in some cases. This is achieved by reducing the problem to solving for a single root of a single univariate polynomial. (3) We conduct a structural graph theoretic study of 3-QSAT interaction graphs which have a "matching". We remark that the results of (2), in particular, introduce a number of new tools to the study of Quantum SAT, including graph theoretic concepts such as transfer filtrations and blow-ups from algebraic geometry.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Quantum linear network coding for entanglement distribution in restricted architectures

In this paper we propose a technique for distributing entanglement in architectures in which interactions between pairs of qubits are constrained to a fixed network $G$. This allows for two-qubit operations to be performed between qubits which are remote from each other in $G$, through gate teleportation. We demonstrate how adapting \emph{quantum linear network coding} to this problem of entanglement distribution in a network of qubits can be used to solve the problem of distributing Bell states and GHZ states in parallel, when bottlenecks in $G$ would otherwise force such entangled states to be distributed sequentially. In particular, we show that by reduction to classical network coding protocols for the $k$-pairs problem or multiple multicast problem in a fixed network $G$, one can distribute entanglement between the transmitters and receivers with a Clifford circuit whose quantum depth is some (typically small and easily computed) constant, which does not depend on the size of $G$, however remote the transmitters and receivers are, or the number of transmitters and receivers. These results also generalise straightforwardly to qudits of any prime dimension. We demonstrate our results using a specialised formalism, distinct from and more efficient than the stabiliser formalism, which is likely to be helpful to reason about and prototype such quantum linear network coding circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

The ZX calculus is a language for surface code lattice surgery

A leading choice of error correction for scalable quantum computing is the surface code with lattice surgery. The basic lattice surgery operations, the merging and splitting of logical qubits, act non-unitarily on the logical states and are not easily captured by standard circuit notation. This raises the question of how best to design, verify, and optimise protocols that use lattice surgery, in particular in architectures with complex resource management issues. In this paper we demonstrate that the operations of the ZX calculus -- a form of quantum diagrammatic reasoning based on bialgebras -- match exactly the operations of lattice surgery. Red and green "spider" nodes match rough and smooth merges and splits, and follow the axioms of a dagger special associative Frobenius algebra. Some lattice surgery operations require non-trivial correction operations, which are captured natively in the use of the ZX calculus in the form of ensembles of diagrams. We give a first taste of the power of the calculus as a language for lattice surgery by considering two operations (T gates and producing a CNOT ) and show how ZX diagram re-write rules give lattice surgery procedures for these operations that are novel, efficient, and highly configurable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Pauli Fusion: a Computational Model to Realise Quantum Transformations from ZX Terms

We present an abstract model of quantum computation, the "Pauli Fusion" model, whose primitive operations correspond closely to generators of the ZX calculus (a formal graphical language for quantum computing). The fundamental operations of Pauli Fusion are also straightforward abstractions of basic processes in some leading proposed quantum technologies. These operations have non-deterministic heralded effects, similarly to measurement-based quantum computation. We describe sufficient conditions for Pauli Fusion procedures to be deterministically realisable, so that it performs a given transformation independently of its non-deterministic outcomes. This provides an operational model to realise ZX terms beyond the circuit model.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Techniques to Reduce $π/4$-Parity-Phase Circuits, Motivated by the ZX Calculus

To approximate arbitrary unitary transformations on one or more qubits, one must perform transformations which are outside of the Clifford group. The gate most commonly considered for this purpose is the T = diag(1, exp(i π/4)) gate. As T gates are computationally expensive to perform fault-tolerantly in the most promising error-correction technologies, minimising the "T-count" (the number of T gates) required to realise a given unitary in a Clifford+T circuit is of great interest. We describe techniques to find circuits with reduced T-count in unitary circuits, which develop on the ideas of Heyfron and Campbell [arXiv:1712.01557] with the help of the ZX calculus. Following [arXiv:1712.01557], we reduce the problem to that of minimising the T count of a CNOT+T circuit. The ZX calculus motivates a further reduction to simplifying a product of commuting "π/4-parity-phase" operations: diagonal unitary transformations which induce a relative phase of exp(i π/4) depending on the outcome of a parity computation on the standard basis (which motivated Kissinger and van de Wetering [1903.10477] to introduce "phase gadgets"). For a number of standard benchmark circuits, we show that these techniques -- in some cases supplemented by the TODD subroutine of Heyfron and Campbell [arXiv:1712.01557] -- yield T-counts comparable to or better than the best previously known results.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Fast and effective techniques for T-count reduction via spider nest identities

In fault-tolerant quantum computing systems, realising (approximately) universal quantum computation is usually described in terms of realising Clifford+T operations, which is to say a circuit of CNOT, Hadamard, and $π/2$-phase rotations, together with T operations ($π/4$-phase rotations). For many error correcting codes, fault-tolerant realisations of Clifford operations are significantly less resource-intensive than those of T gates, which motivates finding ways to realise the same transformation involving T-count (the number of T gates involved) which is as low as possible. Investigations into this problem [arXiv:1206.0758, 1303.2042, 1308.4134, 1601.07363, 1606.01904, 1701.00140] has led to observations that this problem is closely related to NP-hard tensor decomposition problems [arXiv:1712.01557] and is tantamount to the difficult problem of decoding exponentially long Reed-Muller codes [arXiv:1601.07363]. This problem then presents itself as one for which must be content in practise with approximate optimisation, in which one develops an array of tactics to be deployed through some pragmatic strategy. In this vein, we describe techniques to reduce the T-count, based on the effective application of "spider nest identities": easily recognised products of parity-phase operations which are equivalent to the identity operation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of such techniques by obtaining improvements in the T-counts of a number of circuits, in run-times which are typically less than the time required to make a fresh cup of coffee.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

The computational landscape of general physical theories

There is good evidence that quantum computers are more powerful than classical computers, and that various simple modifications of quantum theory yield computational power that is dramatically greater still. However, these modifications also violate fundamental physical principles. This raises the question of whether there exists a physical theory, allowing computation more powerful than quantum, but which still respects those fundamental physical principles. Prior work by two of us introduced this question within a suitable framework for theories that make good operational sense, and showed that in any theory satisfying tomographic locality, the class of problems that can be solved efficiently is contained in the complexity class AWPP. Here, we show that this bound is tight, in the sense that there exists a theory, satisfying tomographic locality, as well as a basic principle of causality, which can efficiently decide everything in AWPP. Hence this theory can efficiently simulate any computation in this framework, including quantum computation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

An integrity measure to benchmark quantum error correcting memories

Rapidly developing experiments across multiple platforms now aim to realise small quantum codes, and so demonstrate a memory within which a logical qubit can be protected from noise. There is a need to benchmark the achievements in these diverse systems, and to compare the inherent power of the codes they rely upon. We describe a recently-introduced performance measure called integrity, which relates to the probability that an ideal agent will successfully 'guess' the state of a logical qubit after a period of storage in the memory. Integrity is straightforward to evaluate experimentally without state tomography and it can be related to various established metrics such as the logical fidelity and the pseudo-threshold. We offer a set of experimental milestones that are steps towards demonstrating unconditionally superior encoded memories. Using intensive numerical simulations we compare memories based on the five-qubit code, the seven-qubit Steane code, and a nine-qubit code which is the smallest instance of a surface code; we assess both the simple and fault-tolerant implementations of each. While the 'best' code upon which to base a memory does vary according to the nature and severity of the noise, nevertheless certain trends emerge.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Minimally complex ion traps as modules for quantum communication and computing

Optically linked ion traps are promising as components of network-based quantum technologies, including communication systems and modular computers. Experimental results achieved to date indicate that the fidelity of operations within each ion trap module will be far higher than the fidelity of operations involving the links; fortunately internal storage and processing can effectively upgrade the links through the process of purification. Here we perform the most detailed analysis to date on this purification task, using a protocol which is balanced to maximise fidelity while minimising the device complexity and the time cost of the process. Moreover we 'compile down' the quantum circuit to device-level operations including cooling and shutting events. We find that a linear trap with only five ions (two of one species, three of another) can support our protocol while incorporating desirable features such as 'global control', i.e. laser control pulses need only target an entire zone rather than differentiating one ion from its neighbour. To evaluate the capabilities of such a module we consider its use both as a universal communications node for quantum key distribution, and as the basic repeating unit of a quantum computer. For the latter case we evaluate the threshold for fault tolerant quantum computing using the surface code, finding acceptable fidelities for the 'raw' entangling link as low as 83% (or under 75% if an additional ion is available).

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Quantum linear network coding as one-way quantum computation

Network coding is a technique to maximize communication rates within a network, in communication protocols for simultaneous multi-party transmission of information. Linear network codes are examples of such protocols in which the local computations performed at the nodes in the network are limited to linear transformations of their input data (represented as elements of a ring, such as the integers modulo 2). The quantum linear network coding protocols of Kobayashi et al [arXiv:0908.1457 and arXiv:1012.4583] coherently simulate classical linear network codes, using supplemental classical communication. We demonstrate that these protocols correspond in a natural way to measurement-based quantum computations with graph states over over qudits [arXiv:quant-ph/0301052, arXiv:quant-ph/0603226, and arXiv:0704.1263] having a structure directly related to the network.

quant-ph↗