Quantum memories at finite temperature

Benjamin J. Brown, Daniel Loss, Jiannis K. Pachos, Chris N. Self, and James R. Wootton
Rev. Mod. Phys. 88, 045005 – Published 15 November 2016

Abstract

To use quantum systems for technological applications one first needs to preserve their coherence for macroscopic time scales, even at finite temperature. Quantum error correction has made it possible to actively correct errors that affect a quantum memory. An attractive scenario is the construction of passive storage of quantum information with minimal active support. Indeed, passive protection is the basis of robust and scalable classical technology, physically realized in the form of the transistor and the ferromagnetic hard disk. The discovery of an analogous quantum system is a challenging open problem, plagued with a variety of no-go theorems. Several approaches have been devised to overcome these theorems by taking advantage of their loopholes. The state-of-the-art developments in this field are reviewed in an informative and pedagogical way. The main principles of self-correcting quantum memories are given and several milestone examples from the literature of two-, three- and higher-dimensional quantum memories are analyzed.

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  • Received 15 December 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.88.045005

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & Technology

Authors & Affiliations

Benjamin J. Brown

  • Quantum Optics and Laser Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom, and Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Daniel Loss

  • Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

Jiannis K. Pachos

  • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

Chris N. Self

  • Quantum Optics and Laser Science, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom, and School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

James R. Wootton

  • Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 88, Iss. 4 — October - December 2016

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