Phase transition in magic with random quantum circuits
Abstract
Magic is a property of quantum states that enables universal fault-tolerant quantum computing using simple sets of gate operations. Understanding the mechanisms by which magic is created or destroyed is, therefore, a crucial step towards efficient and practical fault-tolerant computation. We observe that a random stabilizer code subject to coherent errors exhibits a phase transition in magic, which we characterize through analytic, numeric and experimental probes. Below a critical error rate, stabilizer syndrome measurements remove the accumulated magic in the circuit, effectively protecting against coherent errors; above the critical error rate syndrome measurements concentrate magic. A better understanding of such rich behavior in the resource theory of magic could shed more light on origins of quantum speedup and pave pathways for more efficient magic state generation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2304.10481,
title = {Phase transition in magic with random quantum circuits},
author = {Pradeep Niroula and Christopher David White and Qingfeng Wang and Sonika Johri and Daiwei Zhu and Christopher Monroe and Crystal Noel and Michael J. Gullans},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.10481},
year = {2025}
}