Ancillary-Qubit Majority Voting for High-Fidelity Quantum Gates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Quantum computers face challenges in maintaining high fidelity during qubit operations and readout measurements due to errors and de-coherence, which affect the accuracy and reliability of quantum gate operations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of digital quantum gates with adiabatic sweeps and jumps, coupled with high fidelity gate operations and ancillary qubits for error correction through majority voting, improves the fidelity of quantum operations, particularly for X gates, by entangling qubits and using low fidelity measurements to correct errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quantum gate operations are performed with standard fidelity, then the quantum computer can operate with simpler procedures, but error rates increase and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefidelity of quantum gate operationsVSAvoidcomplexity of quantum procedures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The quantum gate operation is segmented into multiple discrete steps: preparing ancillary qubits in a specific state, performing controlled-NOT operations between the target qubit and ancillary qubits, and finally measuring the ancillary qubits. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and enables error correction through the collective outcome of multiple measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Ancillary qubits are introduced as intermediary elements that mediate between the target qubit and the measurement process. These ancillary qubits absorb potential errors during controlled-NOT operations and serve as carriers for error information, allowing the target qubit to maintain its quantum state while errors are detected and corrected through measurement of the ancillary qubits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the number of ancillary qubits is increased for majority voting, then error correction capability improves, but the number of qubits required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidnumber of qubits
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows dynamic adjustment of the number of ancillary qubits based on the desired fidelity level and computational requirements. By changing this parameter, users can optimize between error correction capability and resource consumption, adapting the system to different operational conditions and error rates without requiring a fixed architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If adiabatic sweeps and jumps are used in digital quantum gates, then gate operation fidelity improves, but the duration of gate operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegate operation fidelityVSAvoidduration of gate operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The digital quantum gate implementation uses periodic adiabatic sweeps and jumps to achieve high-fidelity operations. The adiabatic sweep slowly evolves the system through energy levels to maintain coherence, while periodic jumps rapidly transition between states when needed. This periodic combination of slow and fast operations achieves both high fidelity and reasonable gate duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2652549B1Methods of increasing fidelity of quantum operations
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORP
  • EP2652549B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2652549B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2652549B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for improving fidelity of a quantum operation on a quantum bit of interest. A controlled quantum gate operation, controlled by the quantum bit of interest, id performed on an ancillary quantum bit. An energy state of the ancillary quantum bit is measured to facilitate the improvement of the fidelity of the quantum operation.