Nonreciprocal microwave devices, such as circulators and isolators, are critical in high-fidelity qubit readout schemes. They unidirectionally route the readout signals and protectthe qubits against noise coming from the output chain. However, cryogenic circulators and isolators are prohibitive in scalable superconducting architectures because they rely on magneto-optical effects. Here, we realize an on-chip, single-microwave-pump Josephson ISolator (JIS), formed by coupling two nondegenerate Josephson mixers in an interferometric scheme. We unravel the interplay between the orientation parity of the magnetic fluxes, biasing the mixers, and the JIS directionality. Furthermore, we build a motherboard, which integrates the JIS and other superconducting components, including a Josephson directional amplifier, into a printed circuit and use it to read out a qubit with 92% fidelity, while maintaining 75% of its T2E. Improved versions of this motherboard could replace magnetic circulators and isolators in large superconducting quantum processors.
Nonreciprocal microwave devices play several critical roles in high-fidelity, quantum-nondemolition (QND) measurement schemes. They separate input from output, impose unidirectionalrouting of readout signals, and protect the quantum systems from unwanted noise originated by the output chain. However, state-of-the-art, cryogenic circulators and isolators are disadvantageous in scalable superconducting quantum processors because they use magnetic materials and strong magnetic fields. Here, we realize an active isolator formed by coupling two nondegenerate Josephson mixers in an interferometric scheme. Nonreciprocity is generated by applying a phase gradient between the same-frequency pumps feeding the Josephson mixers, which play the role of the magnetic field in a Faraday medium. To demonstrate the applicability of this Josephson-based isolator for quantum measurements, we incorporate it into the output line of a superconducting qubit, coupled to a fast resonator and a Purcell filter. We also utilize a wideband, superconducting directional coupler for coupling the readout signals into and out of the qubit-resonator system and a quantum-limited Josephson amplifier for boosting the readout fidelity. By using this novel quantum setup, we demonstrate fast, high-fidelity, QND measurements of the qubit while providing more than 20 dB of protection against amplified noise reflected off the Josephson amplifier.
We realize and characterize a quantum-limited, directional Josephson amplifier suitable for qubit readout. The device consists of two nondegenerate, three-wave-mixing amplifiers thatare coupled together in an interferometric scheme, embedded in a printed circuit board. Nonreciprocity is generated by applying a phase gradient between the same-frequency pumps feeding the device, which plays the role of the magnetic field in a Faraday medium. Directional amplification and reflection-gain elimination are induced via wave interference between multiple paths in the system. We measure and discuss the main figures of merit of the device and show that the experimental results are in good agreement with theory. An improved version of this directional amplifier is expected to eliminate the need for bulky, off-chip isolation stages that generally separate quantum systems and preamplifiers in high-fidelity, quantum-nondemolition measurement setups.