Blind calibration of a quantum computer
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Abstract
The calibration of quantum measurements is limited by the ability to accurately prepare quantum states under unknown device errors. We develop an accurate calibration protocol for the measurement apparatus of a quantum computer that is `blind' to the state preparation. Blind calibration quantifies and corrects measurement errors from simple tomographic data on a noisy quantum state. Importantly, it calibrates multiple error mechanisms in a single experiment, eliminating the need for bespoke, separate calibration experiments. Using a trapped-ion quantum computer, we systematically demonstrate the accuracy of the method. We use blind calibration to estimate the native calibration parameters of the experimental system. The recovered calibrations are consistent with directly measured values and perform similarly in predicting the state properties.