title: Topological quantum computation via the quantum tunneling effect.
abstract: Quantum computers are predicted to utilize quantum states to process tasks far faster than those of conventional classical computers. In this Letter we show an alternative approach towards building topological quantum computers by tuning the quantum tunneling effect of degenerate quantum states in topological order, instead of braiding anyons. Using a designer Hamiltonian-the Wen-Plaquette model as an example, we study its quantum tunneling effect of the toric codes and show how to control the toric codes to realize topological quantum computation. In particular, we give a proposal to the measurement of the toric codes from Aharonov-Bohm interferences of quasiparticles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Su-Peng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kou