Non-Markovian Noise Suppression Simplified through Channel Representation

Abstract

Non-Markovian noise, arising from the memory effect in the environment, poses substantial challenges to conventional quantum noise suppression protocols, including quantum error correction and mitigation. We introduce a channel representation for arbitrary non-Markovian quantum dynamics, termed the Choi channel, as it operates on the Choi states of the ideal gate layers. This representation translates the complex dynamics of non-Markovian noise into the familiar picture of noise channels acting on ideal states, allowing us to directly apply many existing error suppression protocols originally designed for Markovian noise. These protocols can then be translated from the Choi channel picture back to the circuit picture, yielding non-Markovian noise suppression protocols. With this framework, we have devised new protocols using Pauli twirling, probabilistic error cancellation and virtual channel purification. In particular, Pauli twirling can transform any non-Markovian noise into noise that exhibits only classical temporal correlations, thereby extending the proven noise resilience of single-shot quantum error correction to arbitrary non-Markovian noise. Through these examples, the Choi channel demonstrates significant potential as a foundational bridge for connecting existing techniques and inspiring the development of novel non-Markovian noise suppression protocols.