Step-by-Step Derivation
1. Ideal State Preparation (No Errors)
First, we determine the 4-qubit state prepared by the circuit in the ideal, error-free case. The circuit is \(U = (CNOT_{03}) (H_0) (CNOT_{21}) (H_2)\), and it acts on the initial state \(|\psi_{in}\rangle = |0000\rangle\). The operations are applied from right to left.
- Initial state: \(|\psi_0\rangle = |0000\rangle\).
- Apply \(H_2\): The Hadamard gate on qubit 2 creates a superposition.
\[
|\psi_1\rangle = H_2 |\psi_0\rangle = |00\rangle_0 |+\rangle_2 |0\rangle_3 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} |00\rangle(|0\rangle+|1\rangle)_2|0\rangle_3 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |0010\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(CNOT_{21}\): This gate flips qubit 1 if qubit 2 is \(|1\rangle\).
\[
|\psi_2\rangle = CNOT_{21} |\psi_1\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(CNOT_{21}|0000\rangle + CNOT_{21}|0010\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |0110\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(H_0\): The Hadamard gate on qubit 0.
\[
|\psi_3\rangle = H_0 |\psi_2\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(H_0|0000\rangle + H_0|0110\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\frac{|0\rangle+|1\rangle}{\sqrt{2}}|000\rangle + \frac{|0\rangle+|1\rangle}{\sqrt{2}}|110\rangle\right)
\]
\[
|\psi_3\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1000\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1110\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(CNOT_{03}\): This gate flips qubit 3 if qubit 0 is \(|1\rangle\).
\[
|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = CNOT_{03} |\psi_3\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(CNOT_{03}|0000\rangle + CNOT_{03}|1000\rangle + CNOT_{03}|0110\rangle + CNOT_{03}|1110\rangle)
\]
\[
|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1001\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1111\rangle)
\]
2. Logical State Identification
The target logical state is \(|\Psi_L\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|00\rangle_{AB} + |11\rangle_{AB})\). We need to find the physical representation of this state. The logical basis states \(|v_A v_B\rangle_L\) are the eigenstates of the logical \(Z\) operators, \(Z_A=Z_0Z_1\) and \(Z_B=Z_0Z_2\), within the codespace defined by the stabilizers \(S_1=XXXX\) and \(S_2=ZZZZ\).
The logical \(|00\rangle_L\) state is stabilized by \(S_1, S_2, Z_A, Z_B\).
- \(Z_A=Z_0Z_1\) and \(Z_B=Z_0Z_2\) imply the states must have \(z_0=z_1\) and \(z_0=z_2\).
- \(S_2=Z_0Z_1Z_2Z_3\) implies an even number of \(|1\rangle\)s, so \(z_0+z_1+z_2+z_3 = 0 \pmod 2\), which leads to \(z_3=z_0\).
- Thus, the computational basis states are \(|0000\rangle\) and \(|1111\rangle\).
- \(S_1=XXXX\) stabilization requires the state to be an equal superposition: \(|00\rangle_L = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |1111\rangle)\).
The other logical basis states are found by applying logical \(X\) operators:
\(|01\rangle_L = X_B|00\rangle_L = (X_0X_1)\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |1111\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|1100\rangle + |0011\rangle)\).
\(|10\rangle_L = X_A|00\rangle_L = (X_0X_2)\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |1111\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|1010\rangle + |0101\rangle)\).
\(|11\rangle_L = X_A X_B|00\rangle_L = (X_0X_2)(X_0X_1)|00\rangle_L = (I_0X_1X_2I_3)|00\rangle_L = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0110\rangle + |1001\rangle)\).
Note: The problem statement has slightly different logical operators, e.g., \(X_A=XIXI\). Using these operators as given: \(X_A X_B |00\rangle_L = (X_0I_1X_2I_3)(X_0X_1I_2I_3)|00\rangle_L = I_0X_1X_2I_3|00\rangle_L = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0110\rangle+|1001\rangle)\). The result is the same.
The target logical GHZ state is:
\[
|\Psi_L\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|00\rangle_L + |11\rangle_L) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle+|1111\rangle) + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0110\rangle+|1001\rangle)\right)
\]
\[
|\Psi_L\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1111\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1001\rangle)
\]
This matches the ideal state \(|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\) calculated in the previous section. Let’s denote this state by \(|\Psi\rangle\).
3. Modeling the Noisy Circuit
The circuit contains two \(CNOT\) gates, each followed by a two-qubit depolarizing channel. Let the ideal circuit be \(U = U_{03}H_0U_{21}H_2\). The noisy evolution produces a final density matrix \(\rho_{final}\).
The error channel on qubits \(i,j\) following a gate is \(\mathcal{E}_{ij}(\rho) = (1-p)\rho + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{k=1}^{15} P^{(k)}_{ij} \rho (P^{(k)}_{ij})^\dagger\), where \(P^{(k)}_{ij}\) are the 15 non-identity two-qubit Pauli operators on qubits \(i,j\).
The final state can be written as a mixture over all possible error events:
\[
\rho_{final} = \sum_{k=0}^{15} \sum_{l=0}^{15} \text{Prob}(k,l) |\psi_{k,l}\rangle\langle\psi_{k,l}|
\]
where \(|\psi_{k,l}\rangle = P^{(l)}_{03} U_{03} H_0 P^{(k)}_{21} U_{21} H_2 |0000\rangle\). The indices \(k=0, l=0\) correspond to no error (\(P=I\)).
Since the operators \(U_{03}H_0\) (acting on qubits 0,3) commute with Pauli errors \(P^{(k)}_{21}\) (acting on qubits 2,1), we can write:
\[
|\psi_{k,l}\rangle = P^{(l)}_{03} P^{(k)}_{21} (U_{03} H_0 U_{21} H_2) |0000\rangle = P^{(l)}_{03} P^{(k)}_{21} |\Psi\rangle
\]
The probability of a specific error sequence \((k,l)\) is \(p_k p_l\), where \(p_0=1-p\) and \(p_{k>0}=p/15\).
The physical fidelity is \(F = \langle\Psi|\rho_{final}|\Psi\rangle\):
\[
F = \sum_{k=0}^{15} \sum_{l=0}^{15} p_k p_l |\langle\Psi| P^{(l)}_{03} P^{(k)}_{21} |\Psi\rangle|^2
\]
The overlap term \(|\langle\Psi|P|\Psi\rangle|^2\) is non-zero only if the Pauli operator \(P\) commutes with the stabilizer group of the state \(|\Psi\rangle\). If \(P\) commutes, \(P|\Psi\rangle = \pm|\Psi\rangle\) and the overlap squared is 1. If \(P\) anti-commutes with any stabilizer of \(|\Psi\rangle\), the overlap is 0.
The state \(|\Psi\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|00\rangle_L + |11\rangle_L)\) is a logical Bell state. Its stabilizer group \(S_{|\Psi\rangle}\) is generated by the code stabilizers (\(S_1, S_2\)) and the logical operators corresponding to the Bell state stabilizers (\(X_A X_B, Z_A Z_B\)).
- Code stabilizers: \(S_1 = XXXX\), \(S_2 = ZZZZ\).
- Logical Bell state stabilizers:
- \(X_A X_B = (X_0I_1X_2I_3)(X_0X_1I_2I_3) = I_0X_1X_2I_3\). Let’s call this \(S_3\).
- \(Z_A Z_B = (Z_0Z_1I_2I_3)(Z_0I_1Z_2I_3) = I_0Z_1Z_2I_3\). Let’s call this \(S_4\).
So, \(S_{|\Psi\rangle} = \langle XXXX, ZZZZ, IX_1X_2I, IZ_1Z_2I \rangle\).
An error operator \(P = P^{(l)}_{03} P^{(k)}_{21}\) gives a non-zero overlap iff it commutes with all four generators. Since \(P^{(l)}_{03}\) and \(P^{(k)}_{21}\) act on disjoint sets of qubits, this condition decouples:
- \(P^{(k)}_{21}\) must commute with \(S_3=IX_1X_2I\) and \(S_4=IZ_1Z_2I\). It automatically commutes with the \(X_0X_3\) and \(Z_0Z_3\) parts of \(S_1\) and \(S_2\).
- \(P^{(l)}_{03}\) must commute with the \(X_0X_3\) part of \(S_1\) and the \(Z_0Z_3\) part of \(S_2\). It automatically commutes with \(S_3\) and \(S_4\).
Let’s count the number of “good” errors (those that commute and thus preserve the state up to a phase).
-
Errors on qubits (2,1): A non-identity Pauli \(P_{12}\) on qubits 1,2 is a “good” error if it commutes with both \(X_1X_2\) and \(Z_1Z_2\). The only two-qubit Paulis with this property are \(X_1X_2\), \(Z_1Z_2\), and \(Y_1Y_2 = (iX_1Z_1)(iX_2Z_2) = -X_1X_2 Z_1Z_2\). There are 3 such operators.
-
Errors on qubits (0,3): Similarly, a non-identity Pauli \(P_{03}\) on qubits 0,3 is a “good” error if it commutes with both \(X_0X_3\) and \(Z_0Z_3\). There are 3 such operators: \(X_0X_3\), \(Z_0Z_3\), and \(Y_0Y_3\).
5. Calculating the Fidelity
The total fidelity is the sum of probabilities of all event sequences where only “good” errors or no errors occur.
At a single CNOT gate, the error channel is \(\mathcal{E}\). The state after the ideal gate is \(|\psi\rangle\). The state after the channel is \(\rho' = \mathcal{E}(|\psi\rangle\langle\psi|)\). The fidelity contribution from this gate is \(F_1 = \langle\psi|\rho'|\psi\rangle\).
\[
F_1 = (1-p) + \frac{p}{15} \sum_{k=1}^{15} |\langle\psi|P^{(k)}|\psi\rangle|^2
\]
For our state \(|\Psi\rangle\) and errors \(P_{12}\) (or \(P_{03}\)), the sum evaluates to 3, as there are 3 “good” errors.
The probability of a “good” error is \(3 \times (p/15) = p/5\).
The probability of a “bad” error (one of the other 12 Paulis) is \(12 \times (p/15) = 4p/5\).
The final state \(|\psi_{final}\rangle\) is not orthogonal to \(|\Psi\rangle\) if and only if any errors that occurred were “good” errors.
Let’s consider one CNOT gate. The state remains in the desired subspace (i.e., is not mapped to an orthogonal state) with probability:
\[
P_{\text{good}} = P(\text{no error}) + P(\text{good error}) = (1-p) + \frac{3p}{15} = 1 - p + \frac{p}{5} = 1 - \frac{4p}{5}
\]
Since the errors at the two CNOT gates are independent, the total fidelity is the product of the probabilities that each gate operation preserves the state in the correct subspace:
\[
F = P_{\text{good at CNOT}_{21}} \times P_{\text{good at CNOT}_{03}} = \left(1 - \frac{4p}{5}\right) \left(1 - \frac{4p}{5}\right)
\]
\[
F(p) = \left(1 - \frac{4p}{5}\right)^2 = 1 - \frac{8p}{5} + \frac{16p^2}{25}
\]
This is the physical fidelity of the final 4-qubit state as a function of the two-qubit gate error rate \(p\).
Final Answer:
The physical state fidelity is given by the function:
\[
F(p) = \left(1 - \frac{4p}{5}\right)^2 = 1 - \frac{8p}{5} + \frac{16p^2}{25}
\]