A Contextual $\psi$-Epistemic Model of the $n$-Qubit Stabilizer Formalism

Abstract

Contextuality, a generalization of non-locality, has been proposed as the resource that provides the computational speed-up for quantum computation. For universal quantum computation using qudits, of odd-prime dimension, contextuality has been shown to be a necessary and possibly sufficient resource. However, the role of contextuality in quantum computation with qubits remains open. The $n$-qubit stabilizer formalism, which by itself cannot provide a quantum computer super-polynomial computational advantage over a classical counterpart, is contextual. Therefore contextuality cannot be identified as a sufficient resource for quantum computation. However it can be identified as a necessary resource. In this paper we construct a contextual $\psi$-epistemic ontological model of the $n$-qubit stabilizer formalism, to investigate the contextuality present in the formalism. We demonstrate it is possible for such a model to be outcome deterministic, and therefore have a value assignment to all Pauli observables. In our model the value assignment must be updated after a measurement of any stabilizer observable. Remarkably, this includes the value assignments for observables that commute with the measurement. A stronger manifestation of contextuality than is required by known no-go theorems.