On-chip microwave coherent source with in-situ control of the photon number distribution

  1. Pasquale Mastrovito,
  2. Halima Giovanna Ahmad,
  3. Martina Esposito,
  4. Davide Massarotti,
  5. and Francesco Tafuri
Coherent photon sources are key elements in different applications, ranging from quantum sensing to quantum computing. In the context of circuit quantum electrodynamics, there have
been multiple proposals for potential coherent sources of photons, but a well established candidate is still missing. The possibility of designing and engineering superconducting circuits behaving like artificial atoms supports the realization of quantum optics protocols, including microwave photons generation. Here we propose and theoretically investigate a new design that allows a tunable photon injection directly on-chip. The scheme is based on initiating a population inversion in a superconducting circuit that will act as the photon source of one or multiple target resonators. The key novelty of the proposed layout consists in replacing the usual capacitive link between the source and the target cavity with a tunable coupler, with the advantage of having on-demand control on the injected steady-state photons. We validate the dynamical control of the generated coherent states under the effect of an external flux threading the tunable coupler and discuss the possibility of employing this scheme also in the context of multiple bosonic reservoirs.

A hybrid ferromagnetic transmon qubit: circuit design, feasibility and detection protocols for magnetic fluctuations

  1. Halima Giovanna Ahmad,
  2. Valentina Brosco,
  3. Alessandro Miano,
  4. Luigi Di Palma,
  5. Marco Arzeo,
  6. Domenico Montemurro,
  7. Procolo Lucignano,
  8. Giovanni Piero Pepe,
  9. Francesco Tafuri,
  10. Rosario Fazio,
  11. and Davide Massarotti
We propose to exploit currently available tunnel ferromagnetic Josephson junctions to realize a hybrid superconducting qubit. We show that the characteristic hysteretic behavior of
the ferromagnetic barrier provides an alternative and intrinsically digital tuning of the qubit frequency by means of magnetic field pulses. To illustrate functionalities and limitation of the device, we discuss the coupling to a read-out resonator and the effect of magnetic fluctuations. The possibility to use the qubit as a noise detector and its relevance to investigate the subtle interplay of magnetism and superconductivity is envisaged.