Topological outcome codes for clifford circuits

Abstract

A method to correct a fault in the application of a Clifford circuit to a qubit register of a quantum computer comprises: (a) receiving circuit data defining the Clifford circuit; (b) receiving additional data identifying one or more measurements belonging to each of a plurality of faces of a lattice; (c) emitting an outcome code based on the circuit data, the outcome code including a series of outcome checks each corresponding to an anticipated error syndrome for the application of the Clifford circuit to the qubit register; and (d) emitting a topological outcome code based on the circuit data, the additional data, and the outcome code, the topological outcome code including a series of check operators that support quantum-error correction via a topological decoder, thereby enabling fault correction in the application of the Clifford circuit to the qubit register.