Random-matrix perspective on probabilistic error cancellation
Phys. Rev. A 114, 012442 – Published 17 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5q85-fp2p
Abstract
Probabilistic error cancellation is an attempt to reverse the effect of dissipative noise channels on quantum computers by applying unphysical channels after the execution of a quantum algorithm on noisy hardware. We investigate on general grounds the properties of such unphysical quantum channels by considering a random-matrix ensemble modeling noisy quantum algorithms. We show that the complex spectra of denoiser channels inherit their structure from random Lindbladians. Additional structure imposed by the locality of noise channels of the quantum computer emerges in terms of a hierarchy of timescales.
