Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) topological codes offer the advantage of supporting fault-tolerant implementations of non-Clifford gates, yet their performance against realistic noise remains largely unexplored. In this work, we focus on the paradigmatic 3D toric code and investigate its fault-tolerance thresholds in the presence of both Pauli and measurement errors. Two randomly coupled lattice gauge models that describe the code’s correctability are derived, including a random 2-form Z 2 gauge theory. By exploiting a generalized duality technique, we show that the 3D toric code exhibits optimal thresholds of p th X , M ≈ 11 % and p th Z , M ≈ 2 % against bit-flip and phase-flip errors, respectively. These threshold values show modest reductions compared to the case of perfect measurements, establishing the robustness of the 3D toric code against measurement errors. Our results constitute a substantial advance towards assessing the practical performance of 3D topological codes. This contribution is timely and in high demand, as rapid hardware advancements are bringing complex codes into experimental reach. Moreover, our work highlights the interdisciplinary nature of fault-tolerant quantum computation and holds significant interest for quantum information science, high-energy physics, and condensed matter physics.
Source: Quantum Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,895
Funders: Comunidad de Madrid, European Commission, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health (111 Center)
OpenAlex ID: W7163864962