On Estimating Time-Varying Pauli Noise

We consider the problem of estimating time-varying quantum noise. Specifically, we focus on Pauli qubit noise with time-variations and attempt to construct the most accurate instantaneous channel description. To this end, we propose an adaptive framework of simultaneous communication and parameter estimation (SCAPE) that efficiently and accurately estimates the time-varying Pauli channel while communicating reliably over the channel being estimated. This adaptive framework gives the informed control of communication rate-parameter estimation tradeoff to communicating parties. Interestingly, this adaptive SCAPE requires post-processing entirely on the receiver's end and minimal feedback to the sender to increase, decrease, or continue with the same code rate of employed error correcting code. This procedure can be particularly useful in time-varying quantum channels with natural periodic deviations in channel conditions, e.g., in satellite communication channels.