49 research outputs found
Topological Characterization with a Twist, Condensation, and Reflection
Despite its putative robustness, the realization of and control over
topological quantum matter is an ongoing grand challenge. Looking forward,
robust characterization protocols are needed to first certify topological
substrates before they are utilized in quantum algorithms. We contribute to
this grand challenge by providing a series of experimentally accessible near-
and medium-term protocols assessing the fidelity of logical processes. To do so
we examine logical operators and anyonic quasiparticle excitations in twisted
gauge theories. Extending the finite twist, a promising
route to Ising computing in its own right, to a non-contractible twist fuses
prior logical operators together and results in a twisted qubit code. The code
is notable for a doubled and tripled code distance for logical and
errors respectively. Next, we review the deconfinement properties of a
double semion condensation and provide an error correction
algorithm. Based on this understanding we then present a
topological quasiparticle reflectometry and scattering protocol. The protocol
infers the topological properties of the system and serves as a high-level
metric for the performance and lifetime of the interfaced topological codes.
Our logical and scattering protocols are suitable for near-term devices where
many physical qubits encode few logical qubits. The topological lifetime of a
particle within a condensate conjugacy class, previously considered in
fabricated and hetero-structured condensed-matter experiments, serves as a
unifying performance metric across synthetic, qubit-based, and naturally
occurring topological order.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure