Normal-Form Characterization of Adaptivity and Entanglement in Pauli-Based Computation

Abstract

Pauli-based computation (PBC) is a measurement-based model of quantum computation that samples from output distributions of universal Clifford+$T$ circuits. Here, we provide a normal form (NF) that completely characterizes its adaptive and entanglement structures. These insights unify PBC with one-way quantum computing as dual or `time-reversed' counterparts. We use the NF to advance strategies for distributed computation and investigate magic-state injection rates. We also demonstrate an exponential improvement in the detection of unnecessary magic-state qubits, allowing their efficient removal. Our NF further enables ahead-of-time circuit compilation using PBC, reducing CNOT gate count and quantum memory of random quantum circuits on average by 50% and 40%, respectively, beating other state-of-the-art compilers.