Learning Mid-circuit Measurement Backaction from Three Repeated Measurements

Abstract:Accurate modeling of mid-circuit measurements (MCMs) is essential for dynamic-circuit operations such as syndrome extraction, measurement-based reset, and the separation of state-preparation and measurement (SPAM) error. Unlike terminal measurement, a noisy MCM both produces a classical outcome and alters the incoming quantum state, thereby influencing subsequent circuit operations. This makes conventional confusion-matrix or fidelity-level characterization insufficient. Here we introduce an efficient, self-consistent protocol for learning a single-qubit Z-twirled MCM instrument, retaining the readout-backaction correlations and excitation-decay asymmetry that are erased in Pauli-error descriptions. Remarkably, readout bit strings from only three repeated MCMs on a maximally mixed input determine all learnable parameters of the reduced instrument, up to a single unidentifiable gauge degree of freedom. Physicality constraints convert this non-identifiability into narrow, gauge-aware error intervals. Implemented on IBM superconducting processors, the learned instrument improves Pauli-observable prediction by ${\sim}100\times$ over a conventional confusion-matrix model and reveals a $T_1$-decay dominated backaction. Our protocol provides a compact characterization layer for SPAM error separation, reset optimization, and noise-aware quantum error correction.

Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. Revised to the accepted manuscript; 44 pages total (6-page Letter and 38-page Supplemental Material), 4 figures total (2 in the Letter and 2 in the Supplemental Material)

arXiv:2606.00433 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2606.00433v2 [quant-ph] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.1103/y6x3-348l DOI(s) linking to related resources