Efficient Soft-Output Decoders for the Surface Code

Explore a conference talk from the 19th Conference on the Theory of Quantum Computation, Communication and Cryptography (TQC 2024) that delves into efficient soft-output decoders for surface code quantum error correction. Learn how these decoders estimate logical failure probability based on error syndromes, potentially reducing overhead costs in fault-tolerant quantum memory and computation. Discover the implementation of soft-output capabilities in Minimum-Weight Perfect Matching and Union-Find decoders, and understand their application in hierarchical code schemes combining surface codes with quantum low-density parity-check codes. Examine how this decoding approach enhances fault-tolerant circuit sampling by identifying runs with unacceptably high logical error probabilities. Presented by researchers Nadine Meister, Christopher A. Pattison, and John Preskill at OIST, Japan, this 23-minute presentation showcases cutting-edge developments in theoretical quantum information science.