Communications of the ACM
Waterloo Researchers Find 'magic' Ingredient For Quantum Computing
This figure illustrates the concept of magic states and their relation to contextuality. The triangular region contains quantum states that are not magic and do not exhibit contextuality; states outside the triangle exhibit contextuality and may be usefu
Credit: University of Waterloo
Quantum contextuality is a key requirement for universal quantum computation, according to researchers at the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC).
The researchers note that in quantum states, the property discovered through a measurement is not a property the system had prior to the measurement process. Instead, what is observed depends on how the observation was carried out, or the context of the experiment. As a result, the researchers say identifying "magic states" as contextual might help with the design of new algorithms that exploit the special properties of these magic states more fully.
"The result gives us a deeper understanding of the nature of quantum computation and also clarifies the practical requirements for designing a realistic quantum computer," says IQC professor Joseph Emerson. "I expect the results will help both theorists and experimentalists find more efficient methods to overcome the limitations imposed by unavoidable sources of noise and other errors."
From University of Waterloo
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