Coupling nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to superconducting flux qubits

We propose a method to achieve coherent coupling between nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond and superconducting (SC) flux qubits. The resulting coupling can be used to create a coherent interaction between the spin states of distant NV centers mediated by the flux qubit. Furthermore, the magnetic coupling can be used to achieve a coherent transfer of quantum information between the flux qubit and an ensemble of NV centers. This enables a long-term memory for a SC quantum processor and possibly an interface between SC qubits and light.     

Observation of excitation in asymmetric flux qubits coupled inductively

We measured magnetic flux produced by coupled flux qubits with a switching current measurement of a DC-SQUID. Both the circulating currents and the SQUID–qubit coupling were designed to be asymmetric. The experimental result exhibits a broad peak and dip, and does not agree with the thermally averaged magnetic flux calculated with the two qubit Hamiltonian. This disagreement can be explained in terms of nonthermal excitation of the coupled qubits, which is probably caused by the microwaves generated by the DC-SQUID in the voltage state.     

Preparation of multi-photon Fock states and quantum entanglement properties in circuit QED

We demonstrate the controllable generation of multi-photon Fock states in circuit quantum electrodynamics （circuit QED）. The external bias flux regulated by a counter can effectively adjust the bias time on each superconducting flux qubit so that each flux qubit can pass in turn through the circuit cavity and thereby avoid the effect of decoherence. We further investigate the quantum correlation dynamics of coupling superconducting qubits in a Fock state. The results reveal that the lower the photon number of the light field in the number state, the stronger the interaction between qubits is, then the more beneficial to maintaining entanglement between qubits it will be.     

Entangling two uncoupled flux qubits via their sequential interaction with a quantized electromagnetic field

A theoretical scheme for the generation of maximally entangled states of two superconducting flux qubits via their sequential interaction with a monochromatic quantum field is presented. The coupling of the qubits with the quantized field can be tuned on and off resonance by modulating the effective Josephson energy of each qubit via an externally applied magnetic flux. The system operates in such a way as to transfer the entanglement from a bipartite field-qubit subsystem to the two qubits. This scheme is attractive in view of the implementation of practical quantum processing systems.     

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.     

Controllably Coupling Superconducting Charge and Flux Qubits by Using Nanomechanical Resonator

We propose an effective mechanism to couple superconducting charge and flux qubits by using a quantized nanomechanical resonator. The coupling between the charge and flux qubits can be controlled by the external flux of the charge qubit. Under the strong coupling limit, an iSWAP gate can be generated by this scheme. The experimental feasibility in our scheme is also presented.     

Nanoscale superconducting quantum bits

Various physical systems were proposed for quantum information processing. Among those nanoscale devices appear most promising for integration in electronic circuits and large-scale applications. We discuss Josephson junction circuits in two regimes where they can be used for quantum computing. These systems combine intrinsic coherence of the superconducting state with control possibilities of single-charge circuits. In the regime where the typical charging energy dominates over the Josephson coupling, the low-temperature dynamics is limited to two states differing by a Cooper-pair charge on a superconducting island. In the opposite regime of prevailing Josephson energy, the phase (or flux) degree of freedom can be used to store and process quantum information. Under suitable conditions the system reduces to two states with different flux configurations. Several qubits can be joined together into a register. The quantum state of a qubit register can be manipulated by voltage and magnetic field pulses. The qubits are inevitably coupled to the environment. However, estimates of the phase coherence time show that many elementary quantum logic operations can be performed before the phase coherence is lost. In addition to manipulations, the final state of the qubits has to be read out. This quantum measurement process can be accomplished using a single-electron transistor for charge Josephson qubits, and a d.c.-SQUID for flux qubits. Recent successful experiments with superconducting qubits demonstrate for the first time quantum coherence in macroscopic systems.     

Evidence for entangled states of two coupled flux qubits

We have studied the low-frequency magnetic susceptibility of two inductively coupled flux qubits using the impedance measurement technique (IMT), through their influence on the resonant properties of a weakly coupled high-quality tank circuit. In a single qubit, an IMT dip in the tank's current-voltage phase angle at the level anticrossing yields the amplitude of coherent flux tunneling. For two qubits, the difference (IMT deficit) between the sum of single-qubit dips and the dip amplitude when both qubits are at degeneracy shows that the system is in a mixture of entangled states (a necessary condition for entanglement). The dependence on temperature and relative bias between the qubits allows one to determine all the parameters of the effective Hamiltonian and equilibrium density matrix, and confirms the formation of entangled eigenstates.     

Quantum switch for coupling highly detuned superconducting qubits

We propose to implement a quantum switch scheme for coupling highly detuned superconducting qubits connected by a gap-tunable bridge qubit. By modulating the frequency of the bridge qubit, it can be used as a coupler to switch on/off and adjust the coupling strength between the initially non-interaction qubits. It is shown that the proposals of quantum information transfer and quantum entangled gate between two highly detuned qubits can be implemented with high fidelity. Moreover, we extend the case of coupling the switch to multiple qubits for the generation of W states. The advantages of our scheme are that it eliminates the need for tuning the gaps of the qubits and the cross-talk interaction is greatly suppressed. The influence of decoherence and parameter variation is also investigated by numerical simulation, which suggests that the present scheme is feasible in current experiment.     

Flux qubit with a large loop size and tunable Josephson junctions

We present the design of a superconducting flux qubit with a large loop inductance. The large loop inductance is desirable for coupling between qubits. The loop is configured into a gradiometer form that could reduce the interference from environmental magnetic noise. A combined Josephson junction, i.e., a DC-SQUID is used to replace the small Josephson junction in the usual 3-JJ (Josephaon junction) flux qubit, leading to a tunable energy gap by using an independent external flux line. We perform numerical calculations to investigate the dependence of the energy gap on qubit parameters such as junction capacitance, critical current, loop inductance, and the ratio of junction energy between small and large junctions in the flux qubit. We suggest a range of values for the parameters.     

Double SQUID tunable flux qubit manipulated by fast pulses: operation requirements, dissipation and decoherence

A double SQUID manipulated by fast magnetic flux pulses can be used as a tunable flux qubit. In this paper we study the requirements for the qubit operation and evaluate the dissipation and decoherence due to the manipulation, with particular attention to the contribution related to the applied tuning control, not present in simpler flux qubits. Furthermore, we shortly discuss the possibility to use an integrated Rapid Single Flux Quantum logic for the qubit control.     

Decoherence in solid-state qubits

The interaction of solid-state qubits with environmental degrees of freedom strongly affects the qubit dynamics, and leads to decoherence. In quantum information processing with solid-state qubits, decoherence significantly limits the performances of such devices. Therefore, it is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms that lead to decoherence. In this review, we discuss how decoherence affects two of the most successful realizations of solid-state qubits, namely, spin qubits and superconducting qubits. In the former, the qubit is encoded in the spin 1/2 of the electron, and it is implemented by confining the electron spin in a semiconductor quantum dot. Superconducting devices show quantum behaviour at low temperatures, and the qubit is encoded in the two lowest energy levels of a superconducting circuit. The electron spin in a quantum dot has two main decoherence channels, a (Markovian) phonon-assisted relaxation channel, due to the presence of a spin–orbit interaction, and a (non-Markovian) spin bath constituted by the spins of the nuclei in the quantum dot that interact with the electron spin via the hyperfine interaction. In a superconducting qubit, decoherence takes place as a result of fluctuations in the control parameters, such as bias currents, applied flux and bias voltages, and via losses in the dissipative circuit elements.     

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.     

Scalable architecture for coherence-preserving qubits

We propose scalable architectures for the coherence-preserving qubits introduced by Bacon, Brown, and Whaley [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 247902 (2001)]. These architectures employ extra qubits providing additional degrees of freedom to the system. These extra degrees of freedom can be used to counter coupling strength errors within the coherence-preserving qubit and combat interactions with environmental qubits. Importantly, these architectures provide flexibility in qubit arrangement, allowing all physical qubits to be arranged in two spatial dimensions.     

内禀退相干下海森伯XY模型中的热纠缠性质及其相干调控

通过求解系统的Milburn方程,研究了内禀退相干下两比特海森伯XY模型中的热纠缠性质. 讨论了非均匀磁场、系统初始纠缠度、 两比特的相对相位对系统热纠缠的调控作用.结果表明:在系统一定的初始条件下, 磁场的引入能够大大提高两比特间的热纠缠 程度;在固有退相干存在的情况下,系统热纠缠强烈依赖于两个自旋比特的初始态, 通过控制两自旋比特的相对相位和振幅,可以 获得系统的稳定热纠缠.结果还表明:在没有外界磁场时,发现Bell正交态是系统的"暗态", 它的热纠缠度在演化过程中不受系 统内禀退相干的影响.     

Superconducting qubit with Purcell protection and tunable coupling

We present a superconducting qubit for the circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture that has a tunable qubit-resonator coupling strength g. This coupling can be tuned from zero to values that are comparable with other superconducting qubits. At g = 0, the qubit is in a decoherence-free subspace with respect to spontaneous emission induced by the Purcell effect. Furthermore, we show that in this decoherence-free subspace, the state of the qubit can still be measured by either a dispersive shift on the resonance frequency of the resonator or by a cycling-type measurement.     

Tunable supercurrent through a double Aharonov–Bohm interferometer

The supercurrent through a double Aharonov–Bohm interferometer formed by parallel-coupled four quantum dots is investigated theoretically. The possibility of controlling the supercurrent of the system is explored by tuning the interdot coupling, dot energy levels, and magnetic flux treading the ring connecting dots and leads. Whether the supercurrent sign can be changed depends not only on the magnetic flux but also on the quantum dot energy levels. By tuning the quantum dot energy levels, the behavior of the supercurrent shows swap effects, which might be used to design a qubit. It is also found that the oscillation period of the supercurrent with respect to the magnetic flux depends on the ratio of the two parts fluxes.     

Strong tunable coupling between a superconducting charge and phase qubit

We have realized a tunable coupling over a large frequency range between an asymmetric Cooper pair transistor (charge qubit) and a dc SQUID (phase qubit). Our circuit enables the independent manipulation of the quantum states of each qubit as well as their entanglement. The measurement of the charge qubit's quantum states is performed by an adiabatic quantum transfer from the charge to the phase qubit. The measured coupling strength is in agreement with an analytic theory including a capacitive and a tunable Josephson coupling between the two qubits.     

Macroscopic resonant tunneling in an rf-SQUID flux qubit

We have observed the macroscopic resonant tunneling of magnetic flux between macroscopically distinct quantum states in a superconducting flux qubit.The dependences of the macroscopic resonant tunneling on the barrier height of the potential well,the flux bias and the initial state are investigated.Detailed measurements of the tunneling rate as a function of the flux bias reveal the feature of the quantum noise in the superconducting flux qubit.     

Multi-qubit controlled-NOT gates and Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger state generation using one qubit simultaneously controlling n qubits

Based on superconducting flux qubits coupled to a superconducting resonator. We propose a scheme for implementing multi-qubit controlled-NOT (C-NOT) gates and Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state with one flux qubit simultaneously controlling on n qubits. It is shown that the resonator mode is initially in the vacuum state, a high fidelity for operation procedure can be obtained. In addition, the gate operation time is independent of the number of the qubits, and can be controlled by adjusting detuning and coupling strengths. We also analyze the experimental feasibility that the conditions of the large detuning can be achieved by adjusting frequencies of the resonator and pulses.