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
15
Mai
2023
Error Sources of Quantum Gates in Superconducting Qubits
As transmon based superconducting qubit architectures are one of the most promising candidates for the realization of large-scale quantum computation, it is crucial to know what are
the main sources of the error in the implemented quantum gates. In this work we make a realistic assessment of the contributions of physical error sources to the infidelities of both single and two-qubit gates, where we focus on the non-adiabatic implementation of the CZ gate with tunable couplers. We consider all relevant noise sources, including non-Markovian noise, electronics imperfections and the effect of tunable couplers to the error of the computation. Furthermore, we provide a learning based framework that allows to extract the contribution of each noise source to the infidelity of a series of gates with a small number of experimental measurements.
12
Mai
2023
High Density Fabrication Process for Single Flux Quantum Circuits
We implemented, optimized and fully tested over multiple runs a superconducting Josephson junction fabrication process tailored for the integrated digital circuits that are used for
control and readout of superconducting qubits operating at millikelvin temperatures. This process was optimized for highly energy efficient single flux quantum (ERSFQ) circuits with the critical currents reduced by factor of ~10 as compared to those operated at 4.2 K. Specifically, it implemented Josephson junctions with 10 uA unit critical current fabricated with a 10 uA/um2 critical current density. In order to circumvent the substantial size increase of the SFQ circuit inductors, we employed a NbN high kinetic inductance layer (HKIL) with a 8.5 pH/sq sheet inductance. Similarly, to maintain the small size of junction resistive shunts, we used a non-superconducting PdAu alloy with a 4.0 ohm/sq sheet resistance. For integration with quantum circuits in a multi-chip module, 5 and 10 um height bump processes were also optimized. To keep the fabrication process in check, we developed and thoroughly tested a comprehensive Process Control Monitor chip set.
09
Mai
2023
Fast analytic and numerical design of superconducting resonators in flip-chip architectures
In superconducting quantum processors, the predictability of device parameters is of increasing importance as many labs scale up their systems to larger sizes in a 3D-integrated architecture.
In particular, the properties of superconducting resonators must be controlled well to ensure high-fidelity multiplexed readout of qubits. Here we present a method, based on conformal mapping techniques, to predict a resonator’s parameters directly from its 2D cross-section, without computationally heavy simulation. We demonstrate the method’s validity by comparing the calculated resonator frequency and coupling quality factor with those obtained through 3D finite-element-method simulation and by measurement of 15 resonators in a flip-chip-integrated architecture. We achieve a discrepancy of less than 2% between designed and measured frequencies, for 6-GHz resonators. We also propose a design method that reduces the sensitivity of the resonant frequency to variations in the inter-chip spacing.
07
Mai
2023
Fully Directional Quantum-limited Phase-Preserving Amplifier
We present a way to achieve fully directional, quantum-limited phase-preserving amplification in a four-port, four-mode superconducting Josephson circuit by utilizing interference between
six parametric processes that couple all four modes. Full directionality, defined as the reverse isolation surpassing forward gain between the matched input and output ports of the amplifier, ensures its robustness against impedance mismatch that might be present at its output port during applications. Unlike existing directional phase-preserving amplifiers, both the minimal back-action and the quantum-limited added noise of this amplifier remains unaffected by noise incident on its output port. In addition, the matched input and output ports allow direct on-chip integration of these amplifiers with other circuit QED components, facilitating scaling up of superconducting quantum processors.
05
Mai
2023
Microarchitectures for Heterogeneous Superconducting Quantum Computers
Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Computing (NISQ) has dominated headlines in recent years, with the longer-term vision of Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computation (FTQC) offering significant
potential albeit at currently intractable resource costs and quantum error correction (QEC) overheads. For problems of interest, FTQC will require millions of physical qubits with long coherence times, high-fidelity gates, and compact sizes to surpass classical systems. Just as heterogeneous specialization has offered scaling benefits in classical computing, it is likewise gaining interest in FTQC. However, systematic use of heterogeneity in either hardware or software elements of FTQC systems remains a serious challenge due to the vast design space and variable physical constraints.
This paper meets the challenge of making heterogeneous FTQC design practical by introducing HetArch, a toolbox for designing heterogeneous quantum systems, and using it to explore heterogeneous design scenarios. Using a hierarchical approach, we successively break quantum algorithms into smaller operations (akin to classical application kernels), thus greatly simplifying the design space and resulting tradeoffs. Specializing to superconducting systems, we then design optimized heterogeneous hardware composed of varied superconducting devices, abstracting physical constraints into design rules that enable devices to be assembled into standard cells optimized for specific operations. Finally, we provide a heterogeneous design space exploration framework which reduces the simulation burden by a factor of 10^4 or more and allows us to characterize optimal design points. We use these techniques to design superconducting quantum modules for entanglement distillation, error correction, and code teleportation, reducing error rates by 2.6x, 10.7x, and 3.0x compared to homogeneous systems.
04
Mai
2023
Mechanically Induced Correlated Errors on Superconducting Qubits with Relaxation Times Exceeding 0.4 Milliseconds
Superconducting qubits are one of the most advanced candidates to realize scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computing. Despite recent significant advancements in the qubit lifetimes,
the origin of the loss mechanism for state-of-the-art qubits is still subject to investigation. Moreover, successful implementation of quantum error correction requires negligible correlated errors among qubits. Here, we realize ultra-coherent superconducting transmon qubits based on niobium capacitor electrodes, with lifetimes exceeding 0.4 ms. By employing a nearly quantum-limited readout chain based on a Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier, we are able to simultaneously record bit-flip errors occurring in a multiple-qubit device, revealing that the bit-flip errors in two highly coherent qubits are strongly correlated. By introducing a novel time-resolved analysis synchronized with the operation of the pulse tube cooler in a dilution refrigerator, we find that a pulse tube mechanical shock causes nonequilibrium dynamics of the qubits, leading to correlated bit-flip errors as well as transitions outside of the computational state space. Our observations confirm that coherence improvements are still attainable in transmon qubits based on the superconducting material that has been commonly used in the field. In addition, our findings are consistent with qubit dynamics induced by two-level systems and quasiparticles, deepening our understanding of the qubit error mechanisms. Finally, these results inform possible new error-mitigation strategies by decoupling superconducting qubits from their mechanical environments.
Versatile parametric coupling between two statically decoupled transmon qubits
Parametric coupling is a powerful technique for generating tunable interactions between superconducting circuits using only microwave tones. Here, we present a highly flexible parametric
coupling scheme demonstrated with two transmon qubits, which can be employed for multiple purposes, including the removal of residual ZZ coupling and the implementation of driven swap or swap-free controlled-Z (cZ) gates. Our fully integrated coupler design is only weakly flux tunable, cancels static linear coupling between the qubits, avoids internal coupler dynamics or excitations, and operates with rf-pulses. We show that residual ZZ coupling can be reduced with a parametric dispersive tone down to an experimental uncertainty of 5.5 kHz. Additionally, randomized benchmarking reveals that the parametric swap cZ gate achieves a fidelity of 99.4% in a gate duration of 60 ns, while the dispersive parametric swap-free cZ gate attains a fidelity of 99.5% in only 30 ns. We believe this is the fastest and highest fidelity gate achieved with on-chip parametric coupling to date. We further explore the dependence of gate fidelity on gate duration for both p-swap and p-swap-free cZ gates, providing insights into the possible error sources for these gates. Overall, our findings demonstrate a versatility, precision, speed, and high performance not seen in previous parametric approaches. Finally, our design opens up new possibilities for creating larger, modular systems of superconducting qubits.
Interplay between topology and localization on superconducting circuits
Topological insulator lie at the forefront of condensed matter physics. However strong disorder can destroy the topological states and make all states become localized. In this paper,
we investigate the competition between topology and localization in the one-dimensional Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model with controllable off-diagonal quasi-periodic modulations on superconducting circuits. By utilizing external ac magnetic fluxes, each transmon can be driven and all coupling strengths can be tuned independently. Based on this model we construct phase diagrams that illustrate the extended topologically nontrivial, critical localization, and coexisting topological and critical localization phases. The dynamics of the qubits‘ excitations are also discussed in this paper, revealing distinct quantum state transfers resulting from the interplay between topology and localization. Furthermore, we propose a method for detecting different quantum phases using current experimental setups.
01
Mai
2023
Qubit readouts enabled by qubit cloaking
Time-dependent drives play a crucial role in quantum computing efforts with circuit quantum electrodynamics. They enable single-qubit control, entangling logical operations, as well
as qubit readout. However, their presence can lead to deleterious effects such as large ac-Stark shifts and unwanted qubit transitions ultimately reflected into reduced control or readout fidelities. Qubit cloaking was introduced in Lledó, Dassonneville, et al. [arXiv:2022.05758] to temporarily decouple the qubit from the coherent photon population of a driven cavity, allowing for the application of arbitrary displacements to the cavity field while avoiding the deleterious effects on the qubit. For qubit readout, cloaking permits to prearm the cavity with an, in principle, arbitrarily large number of photons, in anticipation to the qubit-state-dependent evolution of the cavity field, allowing for improved readout strategies. Here we take a closer look at two of them. First, arm-and-release readout, introduced together with qubit cloaking, where after arming the cavity the cloaking mechanism is released and the cavity field evolves under the application of a constant drive amplitude. Second, an arm-and-longitudinal readout scheme, where the cavity drive amplitude is slowly modulated after the release. We show that the two schemes complement each other, offering an improvement over the standard dispersive readout for any values of the dispersive interaction and cavity decay rate, as well as any target measurement integration time. Our results provide a recommendation for improving qubit readout without changes to the standard circuit QED architecture.
26
Apr
2023
Systematic Improvements in Transmon Qubit Coherence Enabled by Niobium Surface Encapsulation
We present a novel transmon qubit fabrication technique that yields systematic improvements in T1 coherence times. We fabricate devices using an encapsulation strategy that involves
passivating the surface of niobium and thereby preventing the formation of its lossy surface oxide. By maintaining the same superconducting metal and only varying the surface structure, this comparative investigation examining different capping materials and film substrates across different qubit foundries definitively demonstrates the detrimental impact that niobium oxides have on the coherence times of superconducting qubits, compared to native oxides of tantalum, aluminum or titanium nitride. Our surface-encapsulated niobium qubit devices exhibit T1 coherence times 2 to 5 times longer than baseline niobium qubit devices with native niobium oxides. When capping niobium with tantalum, we obtain median qubit lifetimes above 200 microseconds. Our comparative structural and chemical analysis suggests that amorphous niobium suboxides may induce higher losses. These results are in line with high-accuracy measurements of the niobium oxide loss tangent obtained with ultra-high Q superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities. This new surface encapsulation strategy enables further reduction of dielectric losses via passivation with ambient-stable materials, while preserving fabrication and scalable manufacturability thanks to the compatibility with silicon processes.