Implementation of a three-qubit quantum error-correction code in a cavity-QED setup

The correction of errors is of fundamental importance for the development of contemporary computing devices and robust communication protocols. In this paper we propose a scheme for the implementation of the three-qubit quantum repetition code, exploiting the interaction of Rydberg atoms with the quantized mode of a microwave cavity field. Quantum information is encoded within two circular Rydberg states of the atoms and encoding and decoding processes are realized within two separate microwave cavities. We show that errors due to phase-noise fluctuations could be efficiently corrected using a state-of-the-art apparatus. © 2010 The American Physical Society.