Synthesis and evaluation of fault-tolerant quantum computer architectures
Name
60678573-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
16.56 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
fd07a98663d6fd3122dcbc12ae582154
Author(s)
Cross, Andrew W. (Andrew William), 1979-
Advisor(s)
Isaac L. Chuang.
Date Issued
2005
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Fault-tolerance is the cornerstone of practical, large-scale quantum computing, pushed into its prominent position with heroic theoretical efforts. The fault-tolerance threshold, which is the component failure probability below which arbitrarily reliable quantum computation becomes possible, is one standard quality measure of fault-tolerant designs based on recursive simulation. However, there is a gulf between theoretical achievements and the physical reality and complexity of envisioned quantum computing systems. This thesis takes a step toward bridging that gap. We develop a new experimental method for estimating fault-tolerance thresholds that applies to realistic models of quantum computer architectures, and demonstrate this technique numerically. We clarify a central problem for experimental approaches to fault-tolerance evaluation--namely, distinguishing between potentially optimistic pseudo-thresholds and actual thresholds that determine scalability. Next, we create a system architecture model for the trapped-ion quantum computer, discuss potential layouts, and numerically estimate the fault-tolerance threshold for this system when it is constrained to a local layout. Finally, we place the problem of evaluation and synthesis of fault-tolerant quantum computers into a broader framework by considering a software architecture for quantum computer design.
Description
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 241-247).
Subjects
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
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