Series of maximum distance quantum error-correcting codes are developed and analysed. For a given rate and given error-correction capability, quantum error-correcting codes with these specifications are constructed. The codes are explicit with efficient decoding algorithms. For a given field maximum length quantum codes are constructed.
IntroductionQuantum error-correcting codes have an important role in quantum computing and are used to protect quantum information from errors due to quantum noise and decoherence.A short introduction to quantum coding, with history and bibliographical notes, is given in Kim and Matthews [11]. Background information on quantum codes and quantum information theory may be found in the book by Nielsen and Chung [16]. A survey article with emphasis on topological aspects of quantum computing appears in Rowell and Wang [18].The literature on quantum error-correcting codes is massive and expanding. Required background on (classical) coding theory and on basic algebra, including in particular Field Theory, may be found in [3] or in [15]. GF (q) will denote the finite field of order q; of necessity q is a power of a prime. The non-zero elements of GF (q) form a cyclic group of order (q − 1) and any generator of the group is termed a primitive element of GF (q). A (classical) code of length n, dimension k and distance d over GF (q) is denoted by [n, k, d] q or simply by [n, k, d] when the field is understood or given.Seminal work of Calderbank, Shor and Steane [4,5,22] provide the relationship between classical codes and quantum error-correcting codes. Their construction is now known as the CSS construction. Following Rains' works [17] on nonbinary quantum codes, the work of Calderbank, Shor and Steane was extended to nonbinary cases by Ashikhmin and Knill, [2,7]. Gottesman [6] had previously developed the stabilizer formalism for quantum codes. See also work of Shor and Steane in [19,20,21].An [[n, k, d]] q code is a quantum code of length n, dimension k and minimum distance d over the field GF (q); the word q−ary code is sometimes used. When the field is understood or given, the notation [[n, k, d]] can be used, without the q suffix. Use [[n, k, ≥ d]] to mean a quantum code of length n, dimension k and minimum distance at least d.A classical [n, k, d] code satisfies the Singleton bound d ≤ (n − k + 1) and a code reaching this bound is called an mds (maximum distance separable) code. A quantum [[n, r, d]] code satisfies the quantum Singleton bound 2d ≤ (n − r + 2) and a quantum code attaining the bound is called an mds quantum code.
The quantum codesHere series of mds quantum codes are constructed. For a given rate and given error-correcting capability quantum error-correcting mds codes of this rate and capability are given. Efficient decoding algorithms