I am going to post here all newly submitted articles on the arXiv related to superconducting circuits. If your article has been accidentally forgotten, feel free to contact me
07
Dez
2023
Superconducting processor design optimization for quantum error correction performance
In the quest for fault-tolerant quantum computation using superconducting processors, accurate performance assessment and continuous design optimization stands at the forefront. To
facilitate both meticulous simulation and streamlined design optimization, we introduce a multi-level simulation framework that spans both Hamiltonian and quantum error correction levels, and is equipped with the capability to compute gradients efficiently. This toolset aids in design optimization, tailored to specific objectives like quantum memory performance. Within our framework, we investigate the often-neglected spatially correlated unitary errors, highlighting their significant impact on logical error rates. We exemplify our approach through the multi-path coupling scheme of fluxonium qubits.
Flux tunable graphene-based superconducting quantum circuits coupled to 3D cavity
Correlation between transmon and its composite Josephson junctions (JJ) plays an important role in designing new types of superconducting qubits based on quantum materials. It is desirable
to have a type of device that not only allows exploration for use in quantum information processing but also probing intrinsic properties in the composite JJs. Here, we construct a flux-tunable 3D transmon-type superconducting quantum circuit made of graphene as a proof-of-concept prototype device. This 3D transmon-type device not only enables coupling to 3D cavities for microwave probes but also permits DC transport measurements on the same device, providing useful connections between transmon properties and critical currents associated with JJ’s properties. We have demonstrated how flux-modulation in cavity frequency and DC critical current can be correlated under the influence of Fraunhofer pattern of JJs in an asymmetric SQUID. The correlation analysis was further extended to link the flux-modulated transmon properties, such as flux-tunability in qubit and cavity frequencies, with SQUID symmetry analysis based on DC measurements. Our study paves the way towards integrating novel materials for exploration of new types of quantum devices for future technology while probing underlying physics in the composite materials.
03
Dez
2023
Stochastic Model of Qudit Measurement for Superconducting Quantum Information Processing
The field of superconducting quantum computing, based on Josephson junctions, has recently seen remarkable strides in scaling the number of logical qubits. In particular, the fidelities
of one- and two-qubit gates are close to the breakeven point with the novel error mitigation and correction methods. Parallel to these advances is the effort to expand the Hilbert space within a single device by employing high-dimensional qubits, otherwise known as qudits. Research has demonstrated the possibility of driving higher-order transitions in a transmon or designing innovative multimode superconducting circuits, termed multimons. These advances can significantly expand the computational basis while simplifying the interconnects in a large-scale quantum processor. This thesis provides a detailed introduction to the superconducting qudit and demonstrates a comprehensive analysis of decoherence in an artificial atom with more than two levels using Lindblad master equations and stochastic master equations (SMEs). After extending the theory of the design, control, and readout of a conventional superconducting qubit to that of a qudit, the thesis focuses on modeling the dispersive measurement of a transmon qutrit in an open quantum system using quadrature detections. Under the Markov assumption, master equations with different levels of abstraction are proposed and solved; in addition, both the ensemble-averaged and the quantum-jump approach of decoherence analysis are presented and compared analytically and numerically. The thesis ends with a series of experimental results on a transmon-type qutrit, verifying the validity of the stochastic model.
28
Nov
2023
Wiring surface loss of a superconducting transmon qubit
Quantum processors using superconducting qubits suffer from dielectric loss leading to noise and dissipation. Qubits are usually designed as large capacitor pads connected to a non-linear
Josephson junction (or SQUID) by a superconducting thin metal wiring. Here, we report on finite-element simulation and experimental results confirming that more than 50% of surface loss in transmon qubits can originated from Josephson junctions wiring and can limit qubit relaxation time. Extracting dielectric loss tangents capacitor pads and wiring based on their participation ratios, we show dominant surface loss of wiring can occur for real qubits designs. Then, we simulate a qubit coupled to a bath of individual TLS defects and show that only a small fraction (~18%) of coupled defects is located within the wiring interfaces, however, their coupling strength is much higher due to stronger electromagnetic field. Finally, we fabricate six tunable floating transmon qubits and experimentally demonstrate up to 20% improvement in qubit quality factor by wiring design optimization.
Selective-Area-Grown PbTe-Pb Planar Josephson Junctions for Quantum Devices
Planar Josephson junctions are predicted to host Majorana zero modes. The material platforms in previous studies are two dimensional electron gases (InAs, InSb, InAsSb and HgTe) coupled
to a superconductor such as Al or Nb. Here, we introduce a new material platform for planar JJs, the PbTe-Pb hybrid. The semiconductor, PbTe, was grown as a thin film via selective area epitaxy. The Josephson junction was defined by a shadow wall during the deposition of the superconductor Pb. Scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals a sharp semiconductor-superconductor interface. Gate-tunable supercurrent and multiple Andreev reflections are observed. A perpendicular magnetic field causes interference patterns of the switching current, exhibiting Fraunhofer-like and SQUID-like behaviors. We further demonstrate a prototype device for Majorana detection, wherein phase bias and tunneling spectroscopy are applicable.
02
Nov
2023
Fast ZZ-Free Entangling Gates for Superconducting Qubits Assisted by a Driven Resonator
Engineering high-fidelity two-qubit gates is an indispensable step toward practical quantum computing. For superconducting quantum platforms, one important setback is the stray interaction
between qubits, which causes significant coherent errors. For transmon qubits, protocols for mitigating such errors usually involve fine-tuning the hardware parameters or introducing usually noisy flux-tunable couplers. In this work, we propose a simple scheme to cancel these stray interactions. The coupler used for such cancellation is a driven high-coherence resonator, where the amplitude and frequency of the drive serve as control knobs. Through the resonator-induced-phase (RIP) interaction, the static ZZ coupling can be entirely neutralized. We numerically show that such a scheme can enable short and high-fidelity entangling gates, including cross-resonance CNOT gates within 40 ns and adiabatic CZ gates within 140 ns. Our architecture is not only ZZ free but also contains no extra noisy components, such that it preserves the coherence times of fixed-frequency transmon qubits. With the state-of-the-art coherence times, the error of our cross-resonance CNOT gate can be reduced to below 1e-4.
01
Nov
2023
Error-disturbance uncertainty relations in a superconducting quantum processor
We experimentally test the error-disturbance uncertainty relation (EDR) in generalized, variable strength measurements of superconducting qubits on a NISQ processor. Making use of sequential
weak measurements that keeps the initial signal state practically unchanged prior to the main measurement, we demonstrate that the Heisenberg EDR is violated, yet the Ozawa and Branciard EDRs are valid throughout the range of measurement strengths from no measurement to projection measurement. Our results verify that universal EDRs are valid even in a noisy quantum processor and will stimulate research on measurement-based quantum information and communication protocols using a NISQ processor.
29
Okt
2023
Stochastic modeling of superconducting qudits in the dispersive regime
The field of superconducting quantum computing, based on Josephson junctions, has recently seen remarkable strides in scaling the number of logical qubits. In particular, the fidelities
of one- and two-qubit gates have reached the breakeven point with the novel error mitigation and correction methods. Parallel to these advances is the effort to expand the Hilbert space within a single junction or device by employing high-dimensional qubits, otherwise known as qudits. Research has demonstrated the possibility of driving higher-order transitions in a transmon or designing innovative multimode superconducting circuits, termed multimons. These advances can significantly expand the computational basis while simplifying the interconnects in a large-scale quantum processor. In this work we extend the measurement theory of a conventional superconducting qubit to that of a qudit, focusing on modeling the dispersive quadrature measurement in an open quantum system. Under the Markov assumption, the qudit Lindblad and stochastic master equations are formulated and analyzed; in addition, both the ensemble-averaged and the quantum-jump approach of decoherence analysis are detailed with analytical and numerical comparisons. We verify our stochastic model with a series of experimental results on a transmon-type qutrit, verifying the validity of our high-dimensional formalism.
26
Okt
2023
Driving superconducting qubits into chaos
Kerr parametric oscillators are potential building blocks for fault-tolerant quantum computers. They can stabilize Kerr-cat qubits, which offer advantages towards the encoding and manipulation
of error-protected quantum information. Kerr-cat qubits have been recently realized with the SNAIL transmon superconducting circuit by combining nonlinearities and a squeezing drive. These superconducting qubits can lead to fast gate times due to their access to large anharmonicities. However, we show that when the nonlinearities are large and the drive strong, chaos sets in and melts the qubit away. We provide an equation for the border between regularity and chaos and determine the regime of validity of the Kerr-cat qubit, beyond which it disintegrates. This is done through the quantum analysis of the quasienergies and Floquet states of the driven system, and is complemented with classical tools that include Poincaré sections and Lyapunov exponents. By identifying the danger zone for parametric quantum computation, we uncover another application for driven superconducting circuits, that of devices to investigate quantum chaos.
24
Okt
2023
Nonlinear response theory for lossy superconducting quantum circuits
We introduce a numerically exact and yet computationally feasible nonlinear response theory developed for lossy superconducting quantum circuits based on a framework of quantum dissipation
in a minimally extended state space. Starting from the Feynman–Vernon path integral formalism for open quantum systems with the system degrees of freedom being the nonlinear elements of the circuit, we eliminate the temporally non-local influence functional of all linear elements by introducing auxiliary harmonic modes with complex-valued frequencies coupled to the non-linear degrees of freedom of the circuit. In our work, we propose a concept of time-averaged observables, inspired by experiment, and provide an explicit formula for producing their quasiprobability distribution. Furthermore, we systematically derive a weak-coupling approximation in the presence of a drive, and demonstrate the applicability of our formalism through a study on the dispersive readout of a superconducting qubit. The developed framework enables a comprehensive fully quantum-mechanical treatment of nonlinear quantum circuits coupled to their environment, without the limitations of typical approaches to weak dissipation, high temperature, and weak drive. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of our findings to the quantum measurement theory.