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Everything about Surface code

Topological quantum error correcting code

The surface code is a topological quantum error correcting code, and an example of a stabilizer code, defined on a two-dimensional spin lattice. The first type of surface code introduced by Alexei Kitaev in 1997 was the toric code, which gets its name from its periodic boundary conditions, giving it the shape of a torus. These conditions give the model translational invariance, which is useful for analytic study. The toric code is the simplest and most well studied of the quantum double models. It is also the simplest example of topological order—Z2 topological order (first studied in the context of Z2 spin liquid in 1991). The toric code can also be considered to be a Z2 lattice gauge theory in a particular limit. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Surface codeA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Suppressing quantum errors by scaling a surface code logical qubitInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: Ocean observations with EOS/MODISThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Surface code quantum computing by lattice surgeryCited 616 times
  5. Go sideways: Physical and logical qubitsA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: Topological degeneracyA closely related topic

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🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Definition
  2. Open boundary conditions
  3. Quantum computation
  4. Hamiltonian and self-correction
  5. Generalizations
  6. Experimental progress

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

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