Fast-feedback protocols for calibration and drift control in quantum computers

TL;DR

This paper presents two lightweight, adaptive feedback protocols for rapid calibration and drift control in quantum computers, enabling real-time tuning and error correction using minimal measurement data.

Contribution

Introduction of two novel, low-latency calibration protocols leveraging fast feedback for quantum computers, suitable for real-time drift mitigation and error correction.

Findings

Protocols calibrate 1- and 2-qubit gates rapidly and accurately.

Effective adaptive strategies for hyperparameter tuning demonstrated.

Feasibility of real-time in-situ calibration during quantum error correction shown.

Abstract

We introduce two classes of lightweight, adaptive calibration protocols for quantum computers that leverage fast feedback. The first enables shot-by-shot updates to device parameters using measurement outcomes from simple, indefinite-outcome quantum circuits. This low-latency approach supports rapid tuning of one or more parameters in real time to mitigate drift. The second protocol updates parameters after collecting measurements from definite-outcome circuits (e.g.~syndrome extraction circuits for quantum error correction), balancing efficiency with classical control overheads. We use numerical simulations to demonstrate that both methods can calibrate 1- and 2-qubit gates rapidly and accurately even in the presence of decoherence, state preparation and measurement (SPAM) errors, and parameter drift. We propose and demonstrate effective adaptive strategies for tuning the hyperparameters of both protocols. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of real-time in-situ calibration of qubits performing quantum error correction, using only syndrome data, via numerical simulations of syndrome extraction in the [[5,1,3]] code.