Symmetry protected self correcting quantum memory in three space dimensions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that enforcing a 1-form symmetry on a measure zero sub-volume of a three-dimensional system can stabilize a self-correcting quantum memory at non-zero temperature, challenging previous assumptions about the necessity of SPT states.

Contribution

It shows that a trivial bulk with symmetry enforcement on a measure zero sub-volume can realize a self-correcting quantum memory, removing the need for non-trivial SPT states.

Findings

Enforcing 1-form symmetry on a measure zero sub-volume suffices for stability.

Explicit example with trivial bulk achieves self-correction.

Challenges the necessity of SPT states for quantum memory stability.

Abstract

Whether self correcting quantum memories can exist at non-zero temperature in a physically reasonable setting remains a great open problem. It has recently been argued [1] that symmetry protected topological (SPT) systems in three space dimensions subject to a strong constraint -- that the quantum dynamics respect a 1-form symmetry -- realize such a quantum memory. We illustrate how this works in Walker-Wang codes, which provide a specific realization of these desiderata. In this setting we show that it is sufficient for the 1-form symmetry to be enforced on a sub-volume of the system which is measure zero in the thermodynamic limit. This strongly suggests that the `SPT' character of the state is not essential. We confirm this by constructing an explicit example with a trivial (paramagnetic) bulk that realizes a self correcting quantum memory. We therefore show that the enforcement of a 1-form symmetry on a measure zero sub-volume of a three dimensional system can be sufficient to stabilize a self correcting quantum memory at non-zero temperature.