Dealing with quantum computer readout noise through high energy physics unfolding methods

TL;DR

This paper applies high energy physics unfolding methods, specifically Iterative Bayesian Unfolding, to correct readout errors in quantum computers, demonstrating improved error mitigation in multi-qubit systems.

Contribution

It introduces the use of HEP unfolding techniques, particularly IBU, for quantum readout error correction, showing superior performance over traditional methods in multi-qubit scenarios.

Findings

IBU effectively mitigates readout errors in 5-qubit IBM Q Machine.

IBU outperforms traditional correction methods in 7-qubit systems.

Successful application of HEP unfolding methods to quantum error correction.

Abstract

Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that are intractable to classical computers, nevertheless they have high error rates. One significant kind of errors is known as Readout Errors. Current methods, as the matrix inversion and least-squares, are used to unfold (correct) readout errors. But these methods present many problems like oscillatory behavior and unphysical outcomes. In 2020 Benjamin Nachman et al. suggested a technique currently used in HEP, to correct detector effects. This method is known as the Iterative Bayesian Unfolding (IBU), and they have proven its effectiveness in mitigating readout errors, avoiding problems of the mentioned methods. Therefore, the main objective of our thesis is to mitigate readout noise of quantum computers, using this powerful unfolding method. For this purpose we generated a uniform distribution in the Yorktown IBM Q Machine, for 5 Qubits, in order to unfold it by IBU after being distorted by noise. Then we repeated the same experiment with a Gaussian distribution. Very satisfactory results and consistent with those of B. Nachman et al., were obtained. After that, we took a second purpose to explore unfolding in a larger qubit system, where we succeed to unfold a uniform distribution for 7 Qubits, distorted by noise from the Melbourne IBM Q Machine. In this case, the IBU method showed much better results than other techniques.