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Alexander N. Korotkov

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander N. Korotkov.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2019

Operation and intrinsic error budget of a two-qubit cross-resonance gate

We analyze analytically, semi-analytically, and numerically the operation of Cross-Resonance (CR) gate for superconducting qubits (transmons). We find that a relatively simple semi-analytical method gives accurate results for the CNOT-equivalent gate duration and compensating single-qubit rotations. It also allows us to minimize the CNOT gate duration over the amplitude of the applied microwave drive and find dependence on the detuning between the qubits. However, full numerical simulations are needed to calculate intrinsic fidelity of the CR gate. We decompose numerical infidelity into contributions from various physical mechanisms, thus finding the intrinsic error budget. In particular, at small drive amplitudes the CR gate fidelity is limited by imperfections of the target-qubit rotations, while at large amplitudes it is limited by leakage. The gate duration and fidelity are analyzed numerically as functions of the detuning between qubits, their coupling, drive frequency, relative duration of pulse ramps, and microwave crosstalk. The effect of the echo sequence is also analyzed numerically. Our results show that the CR gate can provide intrinsic infidelity of less than $10^{-3}$ when a simple pulse shape is used.

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arXiv2018

Notes on squeezed states in x-space representation

In these notes, we discuss squeezed states using the elementary quantum language based on one-dimensional Schrödinger equation. No operators are used. The language of quantum optics is mentioned only for a hint to solve a differential equation. Sections II and III (squeezed vacuum and pure squeezed states) can be used in a standard undergraduate course on quantum mechanics after discussion of a harmonic oscillator. Section IV discusses density matrix of mixed squeezed states in $x$-representation. These notes present explicit (therefore somewhat lengthy) step-by-step derivations. These notes are not intended for publication as a journal paper.

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arXiv2018

Correlators exceeding one in continuous measurements of superconducting qubits

We consider the effect of phase backaction on the correlator $\langle I(t)\, I(t+τ)\rangle$ for the output signal $I(t)$ from continuous measurement of a qubit. We demonstrate that the interplay between informational and phase backactions in the presence of Rabi oscillations can lead to the correlator becoming larger than 1, even though $|\langle I\rangle|\leq 1$. The correlators can be calculated using the generalized "collapse recipe" which we validate using the quantum Bayesian formalism. The recipe can be further generalized to the case of multi-time correlators and arbitrary number of detectors, measuring non-commuting qubit observables. The theory agrees well with experimental results for continuous measurement of a transmon qubit. The experimental correlator exceeds the bound of 1 for a sufficiently large angle between the amplified and informational quadratures, causing the phase backaction. The demonstrated effect can be used to calibrate the quadrature misalignment.

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arXiv2018

Two-time correlators for propagating squeezed microwave in transients

We analyze two-time correlators as the most natural characteristic of a propagating quadrature-squeezed field in the transient regime. The considered system is a parametrically driven resonator with a time-dependent drive. Using a semiclassical approach derived from the input-output theory, we develop a technique for calculation of the two-time correlators, which are directly related to fluctuations of the measured integrated signal. While in the steady state the correlators are determined by three parameters (as for the phase-space ellipse describing a squeezed state), four parameters are necessary in the transient regime. The formalism can be generalized to weakly nonlinear resonators with additional coherent drive. We focus on squeezed microwave fields relevant to the measurement of superconducting qubits; however, our formalism is also applicable to optical systems. The results can be readily verified experimentally.

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arXiv2018

Multi-time correlators in continuous measurement of qubit observables

We consider multi-time correlators for output signals from linear detectors, continuously measuring several qubit observables at the same time. Using the quantum Bayesian formalism, we show that for unital (symmetric) evolution in the absence of phase backaction, an $N$-time correlator can be expressed as a product of two-time correlators when $N$ is even. For odd $N$, there is a similar factorization, which also includes a single-time average. Theoretical predictions agree well with experimental results for two detectors, which simultaneously measure non-commuting qubit observables.

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arXiv2017

Hybrid phase-space--Fock-space approach to evolution of a driven nonlinear resonator

We analyze the quantum evolution of a weakly nonlinear resonator due to a classical near-resonant drive and damping. The resonator nonlinearity leads to squeezing and heating of the resonator state. Using a hybrid phase-space--Fock-space representation for the resonator state within the Gaussian approximation, we derive evolution equations for the four parameters characterizing the Gaussian state. Numerical solution of these four ordinary differential equations is much simpler and faster than simulation of the full density matrix evolution, while providing good accuracy for the system analysis during transients and in the steady state. We show that steady-state squeezing of the resonator state is limited by 3 dB; however, this limit can be exceeded during transients.

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arXiv2017

Correlators in simultaneous measurement of non-commuting qubit observables

We consider the simultaneous and continuous measurement of qubit observables $σ_z$ and $σ_z\cosφ+ σ_x\sinφ$, focusing on the temporal correlations of the two output signals. Using quantum Bayesian theory, we derive analytical expressions for the correlators, which we find to be in very good agreement with experimentally measured output signals. We further discuss how the correlators can be applied to parameter estimation, and use them to infer a small residual qubit Hamiltonian arising from calibration inaccuracy in the experimental data.

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arXiv2016

Bacon-Shor code with continuous measurement of non-commuting operators

We analyze the operation of a four-qubit Bacon-Shor code with simultaneous continuous measurement of non-commuting gauge operators. The error syndrome in this case is monitored via time-averaged cross-correlators of the output signals. We find the logical error rate for several models of decoherence, and also find the termination rate for this quantum error detecting code. The code operation is comparable to that based on projective measurements when the collapse timescale due to continuous measurements is an order of magnitude less than the time period between the projective measurements. An advantage of the continuous-measurement implementation is the absence of time-dependence in the code operation, with passive continuous monitoring of the error syndrome.

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arXiv2016

Measurement-induced state transitions in a superconducting qubit: Beyond the rotating wave approximation

Many superconducting qubit systems use the dispersive interaction between the qubit and a coupled harmonic resonator to perform quantum state measurement. Previous works have found that such measurements can induce state transitions in the qubit if the number of photons in the resonator is too high. We investigate these transitions and find that they can push the qubit out of the two-level subspace, and that they show resonant behavior as a function of photon number. We develop a theory for these observations based on level crossings within the Jaynes-Cummings ladder, with transitions mediated by terms in the Hamiltonian that are typically ignored by the rotating wave approximation. We find that the most important of these terms comes from an unexpected broken symmetry in the qubit potential. We confirm the theory by measuring the photon occupation of the resonator when transitions occur while varying the detuning between the qubit and resonator.

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arXiv2016

Arrow of Time for Continuous Quantum Measurement

We investigate the statistical arrow of time for a quantum system being monitored by a sequence of measurements. For a continuous qubit measurement example, we demonstrate that time-reversed evolution is always physically possible, provided that the measurement record is also negated. Despite this restoration of dynamical reversibility, a statistical arrow of time emerges, and may be quantified by the log-likelihood difference between forward and backward propagation hypotheses. We then show that such reversibility is a universal feature of non-projective measurements, with forward or backward Janus measurement sequences that are time-reversed inverses of each other.

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arXiv2016

Measuring a transmon qubit in circuit QED: dressed squeezed states

Using circuit QED, we consider the measurement of a superconducting transmon qubit via a coupled microwave resonator. For ideally dispersive coupling, ringing up the resonator produces coherent states with frequencies matched to transmon energy states. Realistic coupling is not ideally dispersive, however, so transmon-resonator energy levels hybridize into joint eigenstate ladders of the Jaynes-Cummings type. Previous work has shown that ringing up the resonator approximately respects this ladder structure to produce a coherent state in the eigenbasis (a dressed coherent state). We numerically investigate the validity of this coherent state approximation to find two primary deviations. First, resonator ring-up leaks small stray populations into eigenstate ladders corresponding to different transmon states. Second, within an eigenstate ladder the transmon nonlinearity shears the coherent state as it evolves. We then show that the next natural approximation for this sheared state in the eigenbasis is a dressed squeezed state, and derive simple evolution equations for such states using a hybrid phase-Fock-space description.

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arXiv2016

Quantum Bayesian approach to circuit QED measurement with moderate bandwidth

We consider continuous quantum measurement of a superconducting qubit in the circuit QED setup with a moderate bandwidth of the measurement resonator, i.e., when the "bad cavity" limit is not applicable. The goal is a simple description of the quantum evolution due to measurement, i.e., the measurement back-action. Extending the quantum Bayesian approach previously developed for the "bad cavity" regime, we show that the evolution equations remain the same, but now they should be applied to the entangled qubit-resonator state, instead of the qubit state alone. The derivation uses only elementary quantum mechanics and basic properties of coherent states, thus being accessible to non-experts.

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arXiv2015

Qubit measurement error from coupling with a detuned neighbor in circuit QED

In modern circuit QED architectures, superconducting transmon qubits are measured via the state-dependent phase and amplitude shift of a microwave field leaking from a coupled resonator. Determining this shift requires integrating the field quadratures for a nonzero duration, which can permit unwanted concurrent evolution. Here we investigate such dynamical degradation of the measurement fidelity caused by a detuned neighboring qubit. We find that in realistic parameter regimes, where the qubit ensemble-dephasing rate is slower than the qubit-qubit detuning, the joint qubit-qubit eigenstates are better discriminated by measurement than the bare states. Furthermore, we show that when the resonator leaks much more slowly than the qubit-qubit detuning, the measurement tracks the joint eigenstates nearly adiabatically. However, the measurement process also causes rare quantum jumps between the eigenstates. The rate of these jumps becomes significant if the resonator decay is comparable to or faster than the qubit-qubit detuning, thus significantly degrading the measurement fidelity in a manner reminiscent of energy relaxation processes.

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arXiv2015

Quantum theory of a bandpass Purcell filter for qubit readout

The readout fidelity of superconducting transmon and Xmon qubits is partially limited by the qubit energy relaxation through the resonator into the transmission line, which is also known as the Purcell effect. One way to suppress this energy relaxation is to employ a filter which impedes microwave propagation at the qubit frequency. We present semiclassical and quantum analyses for the bandpass Purcell filter realized by E.\ Jeffrey \textit{et al}.\ [Phys.\ Rev.\ Lett.\ 112, 190504 (2014)]. For typical experimental parameters, the bandpass filter suppresses the qubit relaxation rate by up to two orders of magnitude while maintaining the same measurement rate. We also show that in the presence of a microwave drive the qubit relaxation rate further decreases with increasing drive strength.

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arXiv2015

Robust quantum state transfer using tunable couplers

We analyze the transfer of a quantum state between two resonators connected by a superconducting transmission line. Nearly perfect state-transfer efficiency can be achieved by using adjustable couplers and destructive interference to cancel the back-reflection into the transmission line at the receiving coupler. We show that the transfer protocol is robust to parameter variations affecting the transmission amplitudes of the couplers. We also show that the effects of Gaussian filtering, pulse-shape noise, and multiple reflections on the transfer efficiency are insignificant. However, the transfer protocol is very sensitive to frequency mismatch between the two resonators. Moreover, the tunable coupler we considered produces time-varying frequency detuning caused by the changing coupling. This detuning requires an active frequency compensation with an accuracy better than 90% to yield the transfer efficiency above 99%.

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arXiv2014

Violating the Modified Helstrom Bound with Nonprojective Measurements

We consider the discrimination of two pure quantum states with three allowed outcomes: a correct guess, an incorrect guess, and a non-guess. To find an optimum measurement procedure, we define a tunable cost that penalizes the incorrect guess and non-guess outcomes. Minimizing this cost over all projective measurements produces a rigorous cost bound that includes the usual Helstrom discrimination bound as a special case. We then show that nonprojective measurements can outperform this modified Helstrom bound for certain choices of cost function. The Ivanovic-Dieks-Peres unambiguous state discrimination protocol is recovered as a special case of this improvement. Notably, while the cost advantage of the latter protocol is destroyed with the introduction of any amount of experimental noise, other choices of cost function have optima for which nonprojective measurements robustly show an appreciable, and thus experimentally measurable, cost advantage. Such an experiment would be an unambiguous demonstration of a benefit from nonprojective measurements.

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arXiv2014

Implementing generalized measurements with superconducting qubits

We describe a method to perform any generalized purity-preserving measurement of a qubit with techniques tailored to superconducting systems. First, we consider two methods for realizing a two-outcome partial projection: using a thresholded continuous measurement in the circuit QED setup, or using an indirect ancilla qubit measurement. Second, we decompose an arbitrary purity-preserving two-outcome measurement into single qubit unitary rotations and a partial projection. Third, we systematically reduce any multiple-outcome measurement to a sequence of such two-outcome measurements and unitary operations. Finally, we consider how to define suitable fidelity measures for multiple-outcome generalized measurements.

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