# What is an algorithm to generate random error in depolarizing channel

The Qunatum Depolarizing Channel is parametrized by a single real variable $$\lambda, 0 \leq \lambda \leq 1$$.

I have a system of $$n$$ qubits. I'd like to generate random errors from that channel. These would be strings of length $$n$$ with entries from $$(0,1,2,3)$$ with the right distribution. $$(0,1,2,3)$$ correspond to $$(I,X,Z,Y)$$ errors; $$I$$ error actually means no error applied to that qubit; the others mean $$X,Z$$ or $$Y$$ operators applied. For example $$n=7$$, error $$e=(0,1,0,0,3,0,2)$$ means $$X$$ is applied to qubit 2, $$Y$$ to qubit 5, $$Z$$ to qubit 7.

Does anyone know of a tried and tested method for doing that. Python or any other language (or even pseudo-code) are fine.

I will assume you want a symmetric depolarizing channel that acts globally on an $$n$$-qubit system and applies one of $$4^n-1$$ nontrivial Paulis with equal probability. Note that we can generalize and slightly modify the Kraus representation given in the Wikipedia link to:

$$$$\label{eq:depol_kraus} \Delta_\lambda(\rho) = \sum_{j \in \{0,1, 2, 3\}^n} p_j K_j \rho K_j$$$$

where $$p_0 = 1 - (1 - 4 ^{-n})\lambda$$ and $$p_j = 4^{-n} \lambda$$ for $$j\neq 0^n$$ otherwise, and each $$K_j = \sigma_{j_1} \otimes \dots \otimes \sigma_{j_n}$$ is a Paulistring. So one strategy to do this might be

1. Sample $$j \in \{0, 1, 2, 3\}^n$$ according to the distribution $$p$$ (or just sample integer $$x \in \{0, 1, \dots, 4^n - 1\}$$ and then convert it to base 4).

2. For $$i=1, \dots, n$$ apply $$\sigma_{j_i}$$ to qubit $$i$$

If you are trying to apply this in a circuit model you could maybe make step 2 more efficient by inserting parameterized gates $$X^{b_{i0}} Z^{b_{i1}}$$ after each qubit $$i$$ wherever you want to place this channel in some fixed circuit. Then you can draw however many events $$j$$ as you need and then simulate the circuit by inserting the parameters $$b_{i0} b_{i1} = \text{bin}(j)$$. I know that Cirq supports this kind of parameterization for example.

If you just want single-qubit depolarizing channels then the above procedure can be done independently for each local system.

• for step 1, I'm thinking of drawing random uniformly distributed samples from 1 to 1000 and setup intervals with endpoints at 1,1-3p/4,1-2p/4,1-p/4,1000. If the sample falls in (1,1-3p/4) I use 0, (1-3/4,1-2p/4) I use 1, ...(1-p/4,1000) I use 3. I think this will give the right distribution of 0,1,2,3. I don't have a direct way to sample from an arbitrary distribution but this should work to convert a uniform distribution to an arbitrary one. I repeat the process $n$ times for the $n$ qubits. Oct 3 '21 at 15:52
• Sorry I don't really understand the sampling scheme you've described or its purpose. Maybe another approach: Sample $X\sim \text{Uniform}(0,1)$. If $X \leq 1-3p/4$, apply $I$ ($\sigma_0$). Otherwise if $X \geq 1 - 3p/4$, sample $P$ from the set $\{1,2,3\}$ and then apply $\sigma_P$. You can generalize this for greater than one qubit. This describes a coinflip as to whether an error occured, then a uniform choice of which pauli error to apply if there is an error. Oct 3 '21 at 21:44