Step 1: Understand the given circuit and the task
The given circuit to prepare a logical two-qubit GHZ state is \((CNOT_{03}) (H_0) (CNOT_{21}) (H_2)\). We need to understand that the operations are applied from right to left, so the order is: \(H_2\), \(CNOT_{21}\), \(H_0\), and finally \(CNOT_{03}\). The task is to calculate the physical state fidelity of the final 4-qubit state as a function of the two-qubit gate error rate \(p\).
Step 2: Analyze the circuit operation step by step
First, we apply \(H_2\) to the initial state \(|0000\rangle\). \(H_2\) puts qubit 2 into a superposition state: \(|0\rangle_2 \rightarrow \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle + |1\rangle)_2\). So, the state becomes \(|000\rangle \otimes \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0\rangle + |1\rangle)\).
Step 3: Continue with \(CNOT_{21}\)
Applying \(CNOT_{21}\), we get \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(|0000\rangle + |0100\rangle)\) because \(CNOT_{21}\) flips qubit 1 if qubit 2 is \(|1\rangle\).
Step 4: Apply \(H_0\)
\(H_0\) acts on qubit 0, resulting in \(\frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1000\rangle + |0100\rangle + |1100\rangle)\).
Step 5: Apply \(CNOT_{03}\)
Finally, \(CNOT_{03}\) gives \(\frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1001\rangle + |0100\rangle + |1101\rangle)\).
Step 6: Understand the effect of the two-qubit depolarizing error channel
Each \(CNOT\) gate is followed by a two-qubit depolarizing error channel that produces one of the 15 non-identity two-qubit Paulis with equal probability \(p/15\). There are two \(CNOT\) gates, so we need to consider the error probability for both.
Step 7: Calculate the probability of no error occurring after each \(CNOT\) gate
For a single \(CNOT\) gate followed by the error channel, the probability of no error is \(1 - p\). Since there are two \(CNOT\) gates, the overall probability of no error is \((1 - p)^2\).
Step 8: Calculate the fidelity of the final state
The fidelity of the final state is the probability that the state is prepared correctly. Given that the initial state is \(|0000\rangle\), the correct final state is \(\frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1001\rangle + |0100\rangle + |1101\rangle)\). Errors can occur after each \(CNOT\) gate. We need to consider how these errors affect the state.
Step 9: Analyze the effect of errors on the state
For \(CNOT_{21}\), an error can result in one of 15 possible two-qubit Pauli errors on qubits 1 and 2. For \(CNOT_{03}\), an error affects qubits 0 and 3. The fidelity will be affected by the probability of these errors.
Step 10: Compute the fidelity
The fidelity \(F\) of the final state can be related to the probability of no error or errors that do not affect the logical state. However, given the depolarizing channel model, we directly calculate the effect of errors on the density matrix.
Step 11: Derive the expression for fidelity as a function of \(p\)
Let’s denote the ideal final state as \(\rho_{ideal} = |\psi\rangle\langle\psi|\), where \(|\psi\rangle = \frac{1}{2}(|0000\rangle + |1001\rangle + |0100\rangle + |1101\rangle)\). The actual state \(\rho_{actual}\) is affected by the error channels. For a two-qubit depolarizing channel with error probability \(p\), the output state after a \(CNOT\) gate can be represented as \((1-p)\rho_{ideal,CNOT} + p\mathcal{E}(\rho_{ideal,CNOT})\), where \(\mathcal{E}\) represents the depolarizing channel’s effect.
Step 12: Simplify the calculation by directly considering the effect of \(p\) on the circuit
Since the circuit involves two \(CNOT\) gates, each followed by a depolarizing error channel, we can simplify by directly applying the error model. The probability of an error on a single \(CNOT\) is \(p\), and there are two \(CNOT\)s, so the fidelity will be related to \((1-p)^2\) for the case of no errors on either \(CNOT\). However, we must consider the overall effect on the 4-qubit state.
Step 13: Calculate the final state fidelity
To simplify, we directly analyze the impact of \(p\) on the state. The initial state is \(|0000\rangle\). After applying the circuit, the ideal state is achieved. The fidelity after errors is \(F = \langle\psi|\rho_{actual}|\psi\rangle\). For a depolarizing error channel after each \(CNOT\), the state’s fidelity is affected. The overall fidelity can be derived by considering the effect of errors on the density matrix.
Step 14: Explicitly derive \(F(p)\)
For a single \(CNOT\) gate with error probability \(p\), the fidelity of the operation is \(1 - p\). With two \(CNOT\) gates, the overall fidelity due to gate errors is \((1-p)^2\). However, we need to consider how these errors propagate through the circuit and affect the final state’s fidelity.
The final answer is: \(\boxed{(1-p)^2}\)