High threshold universal quantum computation on the surface code

TL;DR

This paper reviews a practical surface code quantum computing scheme with high error threshold, low overhead, and long-range logical gates, emphasizing its advantages over other methods.

Contribution

It provides a simplified, comprehensive review of a surface code quantum computing scheme with practical features and broad accessibility.

Findings

Threshold error rate approaches 1%

Supports natural asymmetric and adjustable error correction

Enables low-overhead long-range logical gates

Abstract

We present a comprehensive and self-contained simplified review of the quantum computing scheme of Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 190504 (2007), which features a 2-D nearest neighbor coupled lattice of qubits, a threshold error rate approaching 1%, natural asymmetric and adjustable strength error correction and low overhead arbitrarily long-range logical gates. These features make it by far the best and most practical quantum computing scheme devised to date. We restrict the discussion to direct manipulation of the surface code using the stabilizer formalism, both of which we also briefly review, to make the scheme accessible to a broad audience.