Nondestructive readout for a superconducting flux qubit

We present a new readout method for a superconducting flux qubit, based on the measurement of the Josephson inductance of a superconducting quantum interference device that is inductively coupled to the qubit. The intrinsic flux detection efficiency and backaction are suitable for a fast and nondestructive determination of the quantum state of the qubit, as needed for readout of multiple qubits in a quantum computer. We performed spectroscopy of a flux qubit and we measured relaxation times of the order of 80 micros.     

Josephson charge-phase qubit with radio frequency readout: Coupling and decoherence

The Josephson qubit based on a superconducting single charge transistor inserted in a low-inductance superconducting loop is considered. The loop is inductively coupled to a radio-frequency driven tank circuit enabling the readout of the qubit states by measuring the effective Josephson inductance of the transistor. The effect of qubit dephasing and relaxation due to electric and magnetic control lines, as well as the measuring system, is evaluated. Recommendations for qubit operation with minimum decoherence are given.     

Controllable coupling of superconducting flux qubits

We have realized controllable coupling between two three-junction flux qubits by inserting an additional coupler loop between them, containing three Josephson junctions. Two of these are shared with the qubit loops, providing strong qubit-coupler interaction. The third junction gives the coupler a nontrivial current-flux relation; its derivative (i.e., the susceptibility) determines the coupling strength J, which thus is tunable in situ via the coupler's flux bias. In the qubit regime, J was varied from approximately 45 (antiferromagnetic) to approximately -55 mK (ferromagnetic); in particular, J vanishes for an intermediate coupler bias. Measurements on a second sample illuminate the relation between two-qubit tunable coupling and three-qubit behavior.     

Enhanced coherence of a quantum doublet coupled to Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid leads

We use boundary field theory to describe the phases accessible to a tetrahedral qubit coupled to Josephson junction chains acting as Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid leads. We prove that, in a pertinent range of the fabrication and control parameters, an attractive finite coupling fixed point emerges due to the geometry of the composite Josephson junction network. We show that this new stable phase is characterized by the emergence of a quantum doublet which is robust not only against the noise in the external control parameters (magnetic flux, gate voltage) but also against the decoherence induced by the coupling of the tetrahedral qubit with the superconducting leads. We provide protocols allowing to read and to manipulate the state of the emerging quantum doublet and argue that a tetrahedral Josephson junction network operating near the new finite coupling fixed point may be fabricated with today?s technologies.     

Josephson结开关电流分布的测量方案探讨

Josephson结的开关电流存在着一定的分布.利用开关电流的分布,我们可以推算出Josephson结的逸出率.进一步结合合适的微波辐照,还可以获得结的诸如能级、拉比振荡等许多相关的量子特性.Josephson结的开关电流分布的获得,对于研究超导量子比特,包括相位量子比特、电荷量子比特、磁通量子比特和涡流量子比特以及他们的组合量子比特都有着重要意义.我们提出了三种测量方案,对这三种方案进行了比较,并初步的对自制的NbN/AlNx/NbN Josephson结的开关电流进行了多次(104次)测量,得到一定温度下的开关电流分布的直方图.针对三种方案各自的优缺点及已有的结果,我们提出了需要进一步改进的措施,对于下一步开展在极低温下(mK)Josephson结的开关电流分布的测量有着重要的意义.     

Aharonov-Casher-effect suppression of macroscopic tunneling of magnetic flux

We suggest a system in which the amplitude of macroscopic flux tunneling can be modulated via the Aharonov-Casher effect. The system is an rf SQUID with the Josephson junction replaced by a Bloch transistor--two junctions separated by a small superconducting island on which the charge can be induced by an external gate voltage. When the Josephson coupling energies of the junctions are equal and the induced charge is q = e, destructive interference between tunneling paths brings the flux tunneling rate to zero. The device may also be useful as a qubit for quantum computation.     

Controllable π junction in a Josephson quantum-dot device with molecular spin

We consider a model for a single molecule with a large frozen spin sandwiched in between two BCS superconductors at equilibrium, and show that this system has a π junction behavior at low temperature. The π shift can be reversed by varying the other parameters of the system, e.g., temperature or the position of the quantum dot level, implying a controllable π junction with novel application as a Josephson current switch. We show that the mechanism leading to the π shift can be explained simply in terms of the contributions of the Andreev bound states and of the continuum of states above the superconducting gap. The free energy for certain configuration of parameters shows a bistable nature, which is a necessary pre-condition for achievement of a qubit.     

Generation of macroscopic entangled coherent states with large Josephson junctions

We propose a simple and experimental architecture to generate macroscopic entanglement in a solid system which consists of two large Josephson junctions and a flux qubit. Through quantum measuring of flux qubit, entangled coherent states of two large Josephson junctions are obtained. The concurrence of entangled coherent states can be accommodated by adjusted systematic parameters. We also give a brief discussion on the experimental feasibility of this proposal.     

Quasiparticle relaxation of superconducting qubits in the presence of flux

Quasiparticle tunneling across a Josephson junction sets a limit for the lifetime of a superconducting qubit state. We develop a general theory of the corresponding decay rate in a qubit controlled by a magnetic flux. The flux affects quasiparticles tunneling amplitudes, thus making the decay rate flux-dependent. The theory is applicable for an arbitrary quasiparticle distribution. It provides estimates for the rates in practically important quantum circuits and also offers a new way of measuring the phase-dependent admittance of a Josephson junction.     

Superconducting phase qubits with shadow-evaporated Josephson junctions

We develop a fabrication process for the superconducting phase qubits in which Josephson junctions for both the qubit and superconducting quantum interference device(SQUID) detector are prepared by shadow evaporation with a suspended bridge. Al junctions with areas as small as 0.05 μm~2 are fabricated for the qubit, in which the number of the decoherencecausing two-level systems(TLS) residing in the tunnel barrier and proportional to the junction area are greatly reduced. The measured energy spectrum shows no avoided crossing arising from coherent TLS in the experimentally reachable flux bias range of the phase qubit, which demonstrates the energy relaxation time T_1 and dephasing time T_φ on the order of 100 ns and 50 ns, respectively. We discuss several possible origins of decoherence from incoherent or weakly-coupled coherent TLS and further improvements of the qubit performance.     

Design of a gap tunable flux qubit with FastHenry

In the preparations of superconducting qubits, circuit design is a vital process because the parameters and layout of the circuit not only determine the way we address the qubits, but also strongly affect the qubit coherence properties. One of the most important circuit parameters, which needs to be carefully designed, is the mutual inductance among different parts of a superconducting circuit. In this paper we demonstrate how to design a gap-tunable flux qubit by layout design and inductance extraction using a fast field solver Fast Henry. The energy spectrum of the gap-tunable flux qubit shows that the measured parameters are close to the design values.     

Effect of mutual inductance coupling on superconducting flux qubit decoherence

In the Born-Markov approximation and two-level approximation, and using the Bloch-Redfield equation, the decoherence property of superconducting quantum circuit with a flux qubit is investigated. The influence ou decoherence of the mutual inductance coupling between the circuit components is complicated. The mutual inductance coupling between different loops will decrease the decoherence time. However, the mutual inductance coupling of the same loop, in a certain interval, will increase the decoherence time. Therefore, we can control the decoherence time by changing the mutual inductance parameters such as the strength and direction of coupling.     

Spectroscopy and coherent manipulation of single and coupled flux qubits

Measurements of three-junction flux qubits, both single flux qubits and coupled flux qubits, using a coupled direct current superconducting quantum interference device （dc-SQUID） for readout are reported. The measurement procedure is described in detail. We performed spectroscopy measurements and coherent manipulations of the qubit states on a single flux qubit, demonstrating quantum energy levels and Rabi oscillations, with Rabi oscillation decay time TRabi =- 78 ns and energy relaxation time T~ = 315 ns. We found that the value of TRabi depends strongly on the mutual inductance between the qubit and the magnetic coil. We also performed spectroscopy measurements on inductively coupled flux qubits.     

Tunneling spectroscopy of two-level systems inside a Josephson junction

We consider a two-level system (TLS) with energy level separation plankvOmega0 inside a Josephson junction. The junction is shunted by a resistor R and is voltage V biased. If the TLS modulates the Josephson energy and/or is optically active, it is Rabi driven by the Josephson oscillations in the running phase regime near the resonance 2eV=plankvOmega0. The Rabi oscillations, in turn, translate into oscillations of current and voltage that can be detected in noise measurements. This effect provides an option to fully characterize the TLS inside Josephson junction and to find the TLS's contribution to the decoherence when the junction is used as a qubit.     

Interaction-free measurements with superconducting qubits

An interaction-free measurement protocol is described for a quantum circuit consisting of a superconducting qubit and a readout Josephson junction. By measuring the state of the qubit, one can ascertain the presence of a current pulse through the circuit at a previous time without any energy exchange between the qubit and the pulse.     

Decoherence due to nodal quasiparticles in <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>-wave qubits

We study the Josephson junction between two d-wave superconductors, which is discussed as an implementation of a qubit. We propose an approach to calculate the decoherence time due to an intrinsic dissipative process: quantum tunneling between the two minima of the double-well potential excites nodal quasiparticles, which lead to incoherent damping of quantum oscillations. The decoherence is weakest in the mirror junction, where the contribution of nodal quasiparticles corresponds to the superohmic dissipation and becomes small at small tunnel splitting of the energy level in the double-well potential. For available experimental data, we estimate the quality factor.     

Decoherence in josephson phase qubits from junction resonators

Although Josephson junction qubits show great promise for quantum computing, the origin of dominant decoherence mechanisms remains unknown. Improving the operation of a Josephson junction based phase qubit has revealed microscopic two-level systems or resonators within the tunnel barrier that cause decoherence. We report spectroscopic data that show a level splitting characteristic of coupling between a two-state qubit and a two-level system. Furthermore, we show Rabi oscillations whose "coherence amplitude" is significantly degraded by the presence of these spurious microwave resonators. The discovery of these resonators impacts the future of Josephson qubits as well as existing Josephson technologies.     

铌基超导量子比特及辅助器件的制备

近年来超导量子计算的研究方兴未艾,随着谷歌宣布首次实现“量子优势”,这一领域的研究受到了人们进一步的广泛关注.超导量子比特是具有量子化能级、量子态叠加和量子态纠缠等典型量子特性的宏观器件,通过电磁脉冲信号控制磁通量、电荷或具有非线性电感和无能量耗散的约瑟夫森结上的位相差,可对量子态进行精确调控,从而实现量子计算和量子信息处理.超导量子比特有着诸多方面的优势,很有希望成为普适量子计算的核心组成部分.以铌或其他硬金属(如钽等)为首层大面积材料制备的超导量子比特及辅助器件(简称铌基器件)拥有其独特的优点以及进一步发展的空间,目前已引起越来越多的兴趣.本文将介绍常见的多种超导量子比特的基本构成和工作原理,进而按照器件加工的一般顺序,从基片选择和预处理、薄膜生长、图形转移、刻蚀和约瑟夫森结的制备等方面详细介绍铌基超导量子比特及其辅助器件的多种制备工艺,为超导量子比特的制备提供一个可借鉴的清晰的工艺过程.最后,介绍若干制备铌基超导量子比特与辅助器件的具体例子,并对器件制备的工艺与方法的优化做展望.     

Generating Squeezed States of Nanomechanical Resonator via a Flux Qubit in a Hybrid System

We propose a scheme for generating squeezed states based on a superconducting hybrid system.Our system consists of a nanomechanical resonator,a superconducting flux qubit,and a superconducting transmission line resonator.Using our proposal,one can easily generate the squeezed states of the nanomechanical resonator.In our scheme,the nonlinear interaction between the nanomechanical resonator and the superconducting transmission line resonator can be implemented by the flux qubit as 'nonlinear media' with a tunable Josephson energy.The realization of the nonlinearity does not need any operations on the flux qubit and just needs to adiabatically keep it at the ground state,which can greatly decrease the effect of the decoherence of the flux qubit on the squeezed efficiency.     

Rabi oscillations in a large Josephson-junction qubit

We have designed and operated a circuit based on a large-area current-biased Josephson junction whose two lowest energy quantum levels are used to implement a solid-state qubit. The circuit allows measurement of the qubit states with a fidelity of 85% while providing sufficient decoupling from external sources of relaxation and decoherence to allow coherent manipulation of the qubit state, as demonstrated by the observation of Rabi oscillations. This qubit circuit is the basis of a scalable quantum computer.