Integrating Leakage Reduction Units in Quantum Error Correction using the Surface Code

Despite recent experimental advance in quantum error correction, lower error rates are needed to outperform classical computers. A key challenge is mitigating leakage out of the computational subspace. In this talk, we present experimental progress towards integrating leakage reduction units based on parametric flux modulation [1] in quantum error correction experiments using a 17-qubit superconducting circuit. We evaluate the performance of these experiments in comparison to leakage rejection methods [2] in terms of leakage suppression, logical lifetime, scalability and dominant error mechanisms.

[1] Lacroix, N., et. al., arXiv:2309.07060 (2023)

[2] Krinner, S., Lacroix, N. et. al., Nature (2022)