Benchmarking Quantum Error Correction Codes Against Realistic Error Models for Superconducting Qubits

In quantum computers, errors can accumulate with time as a result of noisy interactions with the environment. It is crucial to detect and correct the errors without destroying the delicate quantum state and information, using suitably designed quantum error correction (QEC) codes. However, the implementation of these codes has proven to be challenging due to the performance limitation of qubits, infidelity of qubit operations, and connectivity in current devices, and those challenges are often platform-specific. Here we present an open-source, lightweight Python framework for studying the performance of QEC codes using a realistic error model appropriate for superconducting transmon qubits. This package requires minimal software dependencies and prioritizes ease of use, ease of change, and pedagogy over execution speed. As such, the simulations are well suited for understanding the process of QEC and the performance of QEC codes on systems with order of ten physical qubits.