In previous work, we proposed a method for leveraging efficient classical
simulation algorithms to aid in the analysis of large-scale fault tolerant
circuits implemented on hypothetical quantum information processors. Here, we
extend those results by numerically studying the efficacy of this proposal as a
tool for understanding the performance of an error-correction gadget
implemented with fault models derived from physical simulations. Our approach
is to approximate the arbitrary error maps that arise from realistic physical
models with errors that are amenable to a particular classical simulation
algorithm in an "honest" way; that is, such that we do not underestimate the
faults introduced by our physical models. In all cases, our approximations
provide an "honest representation" of the performance of the circuit composed
of the original errors. This numerical evidence supports the use of our method
as a way to understand the feasibility of an implementation of quantum
information processing given a characterization of the underlying physical
processes in experimentally accessible examples.Comment: 34 pages, 9 tables, 4 figure
