Benchmarking quantum computers: The five-qubit error correcting code

The smallest quantum code that can correct all one-qubit errors is based on five qubits. We experimentally implemented the encoding, decoding, and err or-correction quantum networks using nuclear magnetic resonance on a five s pin subsystem of labeled crotonic acid. The ability to correct each error w as verified by tomography of the process. The use of error correction for b enchmarking quantum networks is discussed, and we infer that the fidelity a chieved in our experiment is sufficient for preserving entanglement.