Step-by-Step Derivation
1. Determine the Ideal Final State
First, we determine the 4-qubit state \(|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\) produced by the error-free circuit acting on the initial state \(|0000\rangle\). The circuit unitary is \(U = (CNOT_{03}) (H_0) (CNOT_{21}) (H_2)\). 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.
\[
|\psi_1\rangle = H_2 |\psi_0\rangle = |00\rangle \otimes H|0\rangle \otimes |0\rangle = |00\rangle \otimes \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle+|1\rangle) \otimes |0\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |0010\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(CNOT_{21}\): The controlled-NOT gate with control qubit 2 and target qubit 1 flips qubit 1 if qubit 2 is in the state \(|1\rangle\).
\[
|\psi_2\rangle = CNOT_{21} |\psi_1\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(CNOT_{21}|0000\rangle + CNOT_{21}|0010\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |0110\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(H_0\): The Hadamard gate on qubit 0 acts on the first qubit.
\[
|\psi_3\rangle = H_0 |\psi_2\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(H_0|0000\rangle + H_0|0110\rangle) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle+|1\rangle)|000\rangle + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle+|1\rangle)|110\rangle\right)
\]
\[
|\psi_3\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1000\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1110\rangle)
\]
- Apply \(CNOT_{03}\): The controlled-NOT gate with control qubit 0 and target qubit 3 flips qubit 3 if qubit 0 is in the state \(|1\rangle\).
\[
|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = CNOT_{03} |\psi_3\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(CNOT_{03}|0000\rangle + CNOT_{03}|1000\rangle + CNOT_{03}|0110\rangle + CNOT_{03}|1110\rangle)
\]
\[
|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1001\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1111\rangle)
\]
This is the ideal final state. As confirmed in the thought process, this state is the logical GHZ state $(|00\rangle_{AB}+|11\rangle_{AB})/\sqrt{2}$ in the specified [[4,2,2]] code.
2. Model the Noisy Circuit Evolution
The circuit consists of two CNOT gates, each followed by a two-qubit depolarizing channel. Let the state after the first CNOT (ideal) be \(\rho_2' = |\psi_2\rangle\langle\psi_2|\).
The error channel \(\mathcal{E}_{21}\) on qubits 2 and 1 acts as:
\[
\mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho) = (1-p)\rho + \frac{p}{15} \sum_{P_{12} \in \mathcal{P}_{12}\setminus\{II\}} P_{12} \rho P_{12}
\]
where \(\mathcal{P}_{12}\) is the set of 2-qubit Pauli operators on qubits 1 and 2.
The state after the first noisy CNOT gate is \(\rho_2 = \mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho_2')\).
The subsequent gates \(H_0\) and \(CNOT_{03}\) are ideal. The evolution continues as:
\[
\rho_3 = H_0 \rho_2 H_0^\dagger
\]
\[
\rho_4' = CNOT_{03} \rho_3 CNOT_{03}^\dagger
\]
Finally, the second error channel \(\mathcal{E}_{03}\) acts on qubits 0 and 3:
\[
\rho_{final} = \mathcal{E}_{03}(\rho_4') = (1-p)\rho_4' + \frac{p}{15} \sum_{Q_{03} \in \mathcal{P}_{03}\setminus\{II\}} Q_{03} \rho_4' Q_{03}
\]
Let’s combine these steps. Let \(U_{ideal} = CNOT_{03}H_0CNOT_{21}H_2\). So \(|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = U_{ideal}|0000\rangle\).
Let \(U_{mid} = CNOT_{03}H_0\). The gates \(H_0\) and \(CNOT_{03}\) act on qubits disjoint from the first error channel \(\mathcal{E}_{21}\). Therefore, \(U_{mid}\) commutes with any operator \(P_{12}\).
The evolution can be written as:
\[
\rho_{final} = \mathcal{E}_{03} \circ (U_{mid} \cdot U_{mid}^\dagger) \circ \mathcal{E}_{21} ( (CNOT_{21}H_2) |0000\rangle\langle 0000| (CNOT_{21}H_2)^\dagger )
\]
Let \(|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\langle\psi_{ideal}| = \rho_{ideal}\).
\(\rho_{final} = (1-p) \left( U_{mid} \mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho_2') U_{mid}^\dagger \right) + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{Q_{03}\neq II} Q_{03} \left( U_{mid} \mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho_2') U_{mid}^\dagger \right) Q_{03}\)
\(U_{mid} \mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho_2') U_{mid}^\dagger = (1-p)U_{mid}\rho_2'U_{mid}^\dagger + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{P_{12}\neq II} U_{mid}P_{12}\rho_2'P_{12}U_{mid}^\dagger\)
Since \(U_{mid}\) and \(P_{12}\) commute:
\(U_{mid} \mathcal{E}_{21}(\rho_2') U_{mid}^\dagger = (1-p)\rho_{ideal} + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{P_{12}\neq II} P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12} = \rho_4'\).
Substituting this into the expression for \(\rho_{final}\):
\[
\rho_{final} = (1-p)\left[ (1-p)\rho_{ideal} + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{P_{12}\neq II} P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12} \right] + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{Q_{03}\neq II} Q_{03} \left[ (1-p)\rho_{ideal} + \frac{p}{15}\sum_{P_{12}\neq II} P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12} \right] Q_{03}
\]
Expanding this expression:
\[
\rho_{final} = (1-p)^2 \rho_{ideal} + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} \sum_{P_{12}\neq II} P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12} + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} \sum_{Q_{03}\neq II} Q_{03}\rho_{ideal}Q_{03} + \frac{p^2}{15^2} \sum_{P_{12}\neq II, Q_{03}\neq II} Q_{03}P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12}Q_{03}
\]
3. Calculate the Physical Fidelity
The physical state fidelity is \(F = \langle\psi_{ideal}|\rho_{final}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\). Using the expression for \(\rho_{final}\) and that \(\rho_{ideal}=|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\langle\psi_{ideal}|\):
\[
F = (1-p)^2 \langle\psi_{ideal}|\rho_{ideal}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} \sum_{P_{12}\neq II} \langle\psi_{ideal}|P_{12}\rho_{ideal}P_{12}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle + \dots
\]
Since \(\langle\psi_{ideal}|P\rho_{ideal}P|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = \langle\psi_{ideal}|P|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\langle\psi_{ideal}|P|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = |\langle\psi_{ideal}|P|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2\):
\[
F = (1-p)^2 + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} \sum_{P_{12}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|P_{12}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2 + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} \sum_{Q_{03}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|Q_{03}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2 + \frac{p^2}{225} \sum_{P_{12}\neq II, Q_{03}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|Q_{03}P_{12}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2
\]
4. Evaluate Expectation Values
We need to compute the expectation values of Pauli operators for the state \(|\psi_{ideal}\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |0110\rangle + |1001\rangle + |1111\rangle)\).
An expectation value \(\langle\psi_{ideal}|P|\psi_{ideal}\rangle\) is non-zero only if \(P\) is a tensor product of \(I\) and \(Z\) operators. For any Pauli operator containing an \(X\) or \(Y\) matrix, the expectation value is zero.
Let \(P = Z_0^{a_0}Z_1^{a_1}Z_2^{a_2}Z_3^{a_3}\). The expectation value is:
\[
\langle P \rangle = \frac{1}{4} \left( \langle 0000|P|0000\rangle + \langle 0110|P|0110\rangle + \langle 1001|P|1001\rangle + \langle 1111|P|1111\rangle \right)
\]
\[
\langle P \rangle = \frac{1}{4} \left( 1 + (-1)^{a_1+a_2} + (-1)^{a_0+a_3} + (-1)^{a_0+a_1+a_2+a_3} \right)
\]
Let \(x = (a_1+a_2) \pmod 2\) and \(y = (a_0+a_3) \pmod 2\).
\[
\langle P \rangle = \frac{1}{4} (1 + (-1)^x + (-1)^y + (-1)^{x+y})
\]
This expression is \(1\) if \(x=0\) and \(y=0\), and \(0\) otherwise.
So, \(\langle P \rangle = 1\) if and only if \(a_1+a_2\) is even and \(a_0+a_3\) is even. For all other Pauli operators, the expectation value is 0.
Now we evaluate the sums:
* Sum 1: \(\sum_{P_{12}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|P_{12}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2\)
The operators \(P_{12}\) act on qubits 1 and 2, so \(a_0=a_3=0\). This means \(y=0\).
We need to find non-identity \(P_{12}\) of Z-type for which \(x=(a_1+a_2) \pmod 2 = 0\).
The Z-type operators on qubits 1,2 are \(Z_1\), \(Z_2\), \(Z_1Z_2\).
- For \(Z_1\): \(a_1=1, a_2=0 \implies x=1\). \(\langle Z_1 \rangle = 0\).
- For \(Z_2\): \(a_1=0, a_2=1 \implies x=1\). \(\langle Z_2 \rangle = 0\).
- For \(Z_1Z_2\): \(a_1=1, a_2=1 \implies x=0\). \(\langle Z_1Z_2 \rangle = 1\).
The sum is \(1^2 = 1\).
-
Sum 2: \(\sum_{Q_{03}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|Q_{03}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2\)
The operators \(Q_{03}\) act on qubits 0 and 3, so \(a_1=a_2=0\). This means \(x=0\).
We need to find non-identity \(Q_{03}\) of Z-type for which \(y=(a_0+a_3) \pmod 2 = 0\).
The Z-type operators on qubits 0,3 are \(Z_0\), \(Z_3\), \(Z_0Z_3\).
- For \(Z_0\): \(a_0=1, a_3=0 \implies y=1\). \(\langle Z_0 \rangle = 0\).
- For \(Z_3\): \(a_0=0, a_3=1 \implies y=1\). \(\langle Z_3 \rangle = 0\).
- For \(Z_0Z_3\): \(a_0=1, a_3=1 \implies y=0\). \(\langle Z_0Z_3 \rangle = 1\).
The sum is \(1^2 = 1\).
-
Sum 3: \(\sum_{P_{12}\neq II, Q_{03}\neq II} |\langle\psi_{ideal}|Q_{03}P_{12}|\psi_{ideal}\rangle|^2\)
The operator is \(P=Q_{03}P_{12}\). We only need to consider Z-type operators. For \(\langle P \rangle\) to be non-zero, we need \(x=(a_1+a_2) \pmod 2 = 0\) and \(y=(a_0+a_3) \pmod 2 = 0\).
For \(P_{12}\), \(x=0\) implies \(P_{12} = Z_1Z_2\).
For \(Q_{03}\), \(y=0\) implies \(Q_{03} = Z_0Z_3\).
Both \(P_{12}=Z_1Z_2\) and \(Q_{03}=Z_0Z_3\) are non-identity. The combined operator is \(P = (Z_0Z_3)(Z_1Z_2) = Z_0Z_1Z_2Z_3\). For this operator, \(x=0, y=0\), so \(\langle P \rangle = 1\).
This is the only term in the double summation that is non-zero.
The sum is \(1^2 = 1\).
5. Final Fidelity Calculation
Substitute the values of the sums back into the expression for fidelity \(F\):
\[
F(p) = (1-p)^2 + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} (1) + \frac{p(1-p)}{15} (1) + \frac{p^2}{225} (1)
\]
\[
F(p) = (1 - 2p + p^2) + \frac{2p(1-p)}{15} + \frac{p^2}{225}
\]
\[
F(p) = 1 - 2p + p^2 + \frac{2}{15}p - \frac{2}{15}p^2 + \frac{1}{225}p^2
\]
Combine terms with the same power of \(p\):
\[
F(p) = 1 + p\left(-2 + \frac{2}{15}\right) + p^2\left(1 - \frac{2}{15} + \frac{1}{225}\right)
\]
\[
F(p) = 1 + p\left(\frac{-30+2}{15}\right) + p^2\left(\frac{225 - 30 + 1}{225}\right)
\]
\[
F(p) = 1 - \frac{28}{15}p + \frac{196}{225}p^2
\]
This is a perfect square:
\[
F(p) = \left(1 - \frac{14}{15}p\right)^2
\]
Final Answer:
The physical state fidelity of the final physical 4-qubit state as a function of the two-qubit gate error rate \(p\) is:
\[
F(p) = \left(1 - \frac{14}{15}p\right)^2
\]