Study of self-correcting quantum memories in two dimensions

• Grant number: 11/01095-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Peres Novais de Sá
• Grantee: Daniel Antonio López Delgado
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A milestone step into the development of quantum information technology would be the ability to design and operate a reliable quantum memory. The greatest obstacle to create such a device has been decoherence due to the unavoidable interaction between the quantum system and its environment. Self correcting quantum memories provide an initial defense against decoherence. We propose to study the simplest model of a self correcting quantum memory, the toric Kitaev's code in two dimensions and at zero temperature, interacting with an environment model by the Caldeira-Leggett Hamiltonian. The main objective of this proposal is to determine if a Caldeira-Leggett environment can destroy the intrinsic protection of the toric code. (AU)