Decoding Topological Subsystem Color Codes and Generalized Subsystem Surface Codes

Abstract

Topological subsystem codes can combine the advantages of both topological codes and subsystem codes. In this paper we study two classes of topological subsystem codes with an emphasis on decoding them. First, we generalize the two step decoding algorithm of Suchara et al. to all topological subsystem color codes. Then, we propose a construction of subsystem surface codes and develop decoders for them generalizing the results of Bravyi et al. Our simulations for the topological subsystem color code derived from the square octagon lattice resulted in a noise threshold of 1.75%. This is comparable to the previous result of 1.95% by Bombin et al., who used a different algorithm.