# What is the best lower bound for the fault-tolerance threshold in quantum computing?

It is well established that there exists a noise threshold for quantum computation, such that below this threshold, the computation can be encoded in such a way that it yields the correct result with bounded probability (with at most polynomial computational overhead). This threshold depends on the encoding used and the exact nature of the noise, and it is the case that results from simulation often give thresholds much higher than what can be proved for adversarial noise models.

So my question is simply what is the highest lower bound that has been proved for independent stochastic noise?

The noise model I am referring to is the one dealt with in quant-ph/0504218, where Aliferis, Gottesman and Preskill prove a lower bound $2.73 \times 10^{-5}$. Note, however, I do not care which type of encoding is used, and it need not be restricted to the code considered in that paper. The highest I'm aware of is $1.94 \times 10^{-4}$ due to Aliferis and Cross (quant-ph/0610063). Has this value been improved upon since then?

• Do you want a numerical or analytical value? Nov 2 '11 at 10:31
• I'm happy with either as long as it is actually a proven lower bound, without making further assumptions on the noise other than the maximum probability of error. Nov 2 '11 at 10:38
• Great question: also known as the 1 Million Dollar question in quantum computing. I know that there can be serious improvements when one assumes a specific "architecture" in the sense that how easy or hard it is to interact distant qubits (architecture is different from the error model) For example, see here. I think the [PhD thesis of Bryan Eastin] (arxiv.org/abs/0710.2560) could be a good starting point to have a look at.
– Kaveh_kh
Nov 2 '11 at 13:39
• @Kaveh_kh: thanks for the link. In case it isn't clear from the question, I mean the best known threshold. Nov 2 '11 at 13:47
• @Joe, a comparably well-posed question, having both practical and fundamental implications in simulation science, is "What quantum computer architecture has the lowest proved lower bound for independent stochastic noise, such that PTIME simulation of the (noisy) computation process is possible for all error rates above the bound?" Perhaps Joe Fitzsimons might consider adjoining some version of this question to the original question? Nov 2 '11 at 17:31

The highest threshold lower bound for for independent stochastic noise of which I am aware is $1.04 \times 10^{-3}$ by Aliferis, Gottesman and Preskill (quant-ph/0703264). They analyze Knill's teleportation-based scheme with postselection.
If you are willing to consider independent depolarizing noise, then I know of two slightly higher lower bounds: $1.25\times 10^{-3}$ by Aliferis and Preskill (arXiv:0809.5063) and $1.32 \times 10^{-3}$ by myself and Ben Reichardt (arXiv:1106.2190).