arXiv subjects

Andreas Wallraff

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Wallraff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Neural Networks for Recognizing Quantum Phases

Identifying quantum phases of matter is key to understanding strongly correlated materials, but remains a challenging task for both conventional computers and current quantum processors. Here, we introduce and implement a hybrid quantum-classical neural network for quantum phase recognition by combining a hardware-efficient parameterized quantum circuit and a feedforward neural network. We jointly train both components with superconducting quantum hardware in the optimization loop, to experimentally demonstrate a classifier for the quantum phases of surface code lattices with up to 4x4 sites in a magnetic field. To learn nonlocal features of the topological phase, we train the hybrid neural network to distinguish topological ground states of the surface code from a featureless ensemble of product states. This allows the trained classifier to distinguish topological ground states from randomly chosen product states, even when subjected to any single-qubit Pauli error. The classifier reaches accuracies above 85% in single-shot measurements, and above 99% when averaging over ten measurements. We expect hybrid neural networks such as the one presented here to be a promising approach for characterizing quantum states in scenarios where classical methods exhibit an unfavorable scaling of sample complexity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Lattice surgery for near-term experimental logical qubit entanglement creation in planar architectures

In the era of early fault-tolerant quantum computing, basic demonstrations of entanglement operations between a few logical qubits are at the frontier of recent developments in quantum computing. In this work, we describe in detail, at both the logical and physical qubit levels, a logical teleportation protocol between two surface code logical qubits based on lattice surgery. We address several aspects of the teleportation protocol pertinent to superconducting qubit architectures. We explore the modularity constraints in the number and location of stabilizer readouts and compare variants of the teleportation protocol in this regard. Additionally, we investigate potential performance improvements related to in-sequence decision logic and the optimal size of the interface region between two surface code patches on a superconducting chip. Based on our simulations, we show possible near-term improvements in lattice surgery protocols that facilitate fault-tolerant quantum computing in superconducting circuit architectures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Frequency-resolved decoherence spectroscopy of a semiconductor charge qubit coupled to a high-impedance resonator

Superconducting resonators coupled to semiconductor quantum dots provide a powerful platform to investigate light-matter interaction and decoherence mechanisms in solid-state quantum systems. Here we study a hybrid circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture consisting of a GaAs double-quantum-dot charge qubit capacitively coupled to a high-impedance, frequency-tunable SQUID-array resonator. By tuning the qubit transition frequency over the range $\omega_\mathrm{q}/2\pi \sim 3$-$6$ GHz, we perform frequency-resolved decoherence spectroscopy of the charge qubit across a broad energy window. Time-resolved measurements enable us to disentangle relaxation and pure dephasing processes and to identify distinct decoherence regimes as a function of qubit frequency. We find that at lower frequencies ($\leq 4.5$ GHz) dephasing dominates the qubit linewidth, whereas at higher frequencies energy relaxation becomes the leading contribution. The measured frequency dependence of the relaxation rate exhibits a cubic scaling, consistent with charge-qubit decay dominated by coupling to a piezoelectric phonon bath and providing frequency-resolved access to the corresponding phonon-induced spectral density. Our results show that hybrid semiconductor--superconducting circuits can serve as sensitive spectroscopic tools to probe microscopic decoherence mechanisms relevant for a wide range of hybrid quantum devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Microwave Crosstalk in Planar Superconducting Quantum Devices

Microwave crosstalk poses a major challenge to scaling superconducting quantum devices as it introduces excess control errors. Although its magnitude and impact have been explored in various experimental settings, quantitative physical models capable of explaining measured crosstalk for a given device geometry remain scarce. Here, we address this gap by investigating microwave crosstalk in planar superconducting devices with crossovers. We identify two structures that can lead to strong crosstalk: a drive line routed in close proximity to another qubit, and a drive line crossing a qubit-qubit coupler using an air bridge. We design and characterize devices involving these structures and develop physical models that quantitatively explain the experimentally observed crosstalk. Based on these models, we discuss the design considerations for reducing microwave crosstalk. Our results provide practical guidance for low-crosstalk device layouts and establish a basis for the systematic investigation of weaker crosstalk mechanisms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Blind Quantum Computation on a Modular Superconducting Processor

Current cloud-based quantum processors offer access to advanced hardware hosted on a remote server, but do not guarantee data or algorithm privacy. Blind quantum computation provides information-theoretic privacy by enabling a client to execute an algorithm without disclosing information about either the task or the final result. Here, we execute a measurement-based blind quantum computation protocol on a superconducting processor comprising two flip-chip-bonded modules, one acting as a server and the other as a client. The server generates a two-dimensional cluster state and forwards it to the client. Using this resource, the client implements a universal gate set with only adaptive single-qubit rotations and measurements. To illustrate this approach, we execute a three-qubit instance of the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. We analyze the server's quantum state after each rotation of a measurement-based single-qubit gate to verify that negligible information about the computation is revealed to the server, consistent with the one-way flow of information that guarantees blindness. This proof-of-principle demonstration establishes key elements of blind quantum computation in superconducting-circuit architectures, indicating that intermediate-scale implementations of blind protocols may become feasible with realistic near-term improvements in gate fidelities.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A Modular Cryogenic Link for Microwave Quantum Communication Over Distances of Tens of Meters

Quantum technologies promise a radically new way to solve classically intractable computing problems. Superconducting circuits as a platform are at the forefront of this field. The cryogenic operation temperatures of superconducting circuits however impose challenges for the further scaling to many connected quantum information processing units into a local area or global network. In this work, we present a hardware solution for connecting quantum devices operating at microwave frequencies into local area networks, which enable the exchange of quantum information between spatially separated parties. Specifically, we demonstrate a modular system spanning distances of 5, 10 and 30 meters operated at cryogenic temperatures and connecting two superconducting circuit systems, located in individual dilution refrigerators, through a quantum communication channel. We develop a thermal model to evaluate the heat transfer processes in the setup, optimize the design and select appropriate materials for its construction. The assembled 30-meter-long system achieves operating temperatures of below 50 mK after a cooldown time of about six and a half days. This link enables the execution of distributed quantum computing and communication algorithms. It also adds the resource of non-locality, certified by a loophole-free Bell test, to the field of quantum science and technology with superconducting circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Emission and Absorption of Microwave Photons in Orthogonal Temporal Modes across a 30-Meter Two-Node Network

The tunable interaction between stationary quantum bits and propagating modes of light allows for the encoding of quantum information in the state of itinerant photons. This ability fulfills a central requirement for quantum networking, enabling quantum state transfer between distant quantum devices. Conventionally, a symmetric envelope of the photon wavepacket is used for such purposes. Yet, the use of alternative \textit{temporal modes} enables multiple applications in waveguide quantum electrodynamics that remain unexplored experimentally. Here, we use superconducting quantum circuits to generate individual itinerant microwave photons shaped in three mutually orthogonal temporal modes. We transfer the created photons across a 30-m cryogenic link, showing that the orthogonality allows us to decide at the receiver which mode to absorb, reflecting the other two with a selectivity ratio of 40. This experimental capability extends the microwave-frequency quantum communication toolbox, enabling a new photonic degree of freedom.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Assessing the Sensitivity of Niobium- and Tantalum-Based Superconducting Qubits to Infrared Radiation

The use of tantalum films for superconducting qubits has recently extended qubit coherence times significantly, primarily due to reduced dielectric losses at the metal-air interface. However, the choice of base material also influences the sensitivity to quasiparticle-induced decoherence. In this study, we investigate quasiparticle tunneling rates in niobium and tantalum-based offset-charge-sensitive qubits. Using a source of thermal radiation, we characterize the sensitivity of either material to infrared radiation and explore the impact of the infrared background through the targeted use of in-line filters in the wiring and ambient infrared absorbers. We identify both radiation channels as significant contributions to decoherence for tantalum but not for niobium qubits and achieve tunneling rates of 100 Hz and 300 Hz for niobium and tantalum respectively upon installation of infrared filters. Additionally, we find a time-dependence in the observed tunneling rates on the scale of days, which we interpret as evidence of slowly cooling, thermally radiating components in the experimental setup. Our findings indicate that continued improvements in coherence times may require renewed attention to radiative backgrounds and experimental setup design, especially when introducing new material platforms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Resource-Efficient Cross-Platform Verification with Modular Superconducting Devices

Large-scale quantum computers are expected to benefit from modular architectures. Validating the capabilities of modular devices requires benchmarking strategies that assess performance within and between modules. In this work, we evaluate cross-platform verification protocols, which are critical for quantifying how accurately different modules prepare the same quantum state -- a key requirement for modular scalability and system-wide consistency. We demonstrate these algorithms using a six-qubit flip-chip superconducting quantum device consisting of two three-qubit modules on a single carrier chip, with connectivity for intra- and inter-module entanglement. We examine how the resource requirements of protocols relying solely on classical communication between modules scale exponentially with qubit number, and demonstrate that introducing an inter-module two-qubit gate enables sub-exponential scaling in cross-platform verification. This approach reduces the number of repetitions required by a factor of four for three-qubit states, with greater reductions projected for larger and higher-fidelity devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Performance Characterization of a Multi-Module Quantum Processor with Static Inter-Chip Couplers

Three-dimensional integration technologies such as flip-chip bonding are a key prerequisite to realize large-scale superconducting quantum processors. Modular architectures, in which circuit elements are spread over multiple chips, can further improve scalability and performance by enabling the integration of elements with different substrates or fabrication processes, by increasing the fabrication yield of completed devices, and by physically separating the qubits onto distinct modules to avoid correlated errors mediated by a common substrate. We present a design for a multi-chip module comprising one carrier chip and four qubit modules. Measuring two of the qubits, we analyze the readout performance, finding a mean three-level state-assignment error of $9 \times 10^{-3}$ in 200 ns. We calibrate single-qubit gates and measure a mean simultaneous randomized benchmarking error of $6 \times 10^{-4}$, consistent with the coherence times of the qubits. Using a wiring-efficient static inter-module coupler featuring galvanic inter-chip transitions, we demonstrate a controlled-Z two-qubit gate in 100 ns with an error of $7 \times 10^{-3}$ extracted from interleaved randomized benchmarking. Three-dimensional integration, as presented here, will continue to contribute to improving the performance of gates and readout as well as increasing the qubit count in future superconducting quantum processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Realizing a Continuous Set of Two-Qubit Gates Parameterized by an Idle Time

Continuous gate sets are a key ingredient for near-term quantum algorithms. Here, we demonstrate a hardware-efficient, continuous set of controlled arbitrary-phase ($\mathrm{C}Z_{\theta}$) gates acting on flux-tunable transmon qubits. This implementation is robust to control pulse distortions on time scales longer than the duration of the gate, making it suitable for deep quantum circuits. Our calibration procedure makes it possible to parameterize the continuous gate set with a single control parameter, the idle time between the two rectangular halves of the net-zero control pulse. For calibration and characterization, we develop a leakage measurement based on coherent amplification, and a new cycle design for cross-entropy benchmarking. We demonstrate gate errors of $0.7 \%$ and leakage of $4\times 10^{-4}$ across the entire gate set. This native gate set has the potential to reduce the depth and improve the performance of near-term quantum algorithms compared to decompositions into $\mathrm{C}Z_{\pi}$ gates and single-qubit gates. Moreover, we expect the calibration and benchmarking methods to find further possible applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Calibrating Magnetic Flux Control in Superconducting Circuits by Compensating Distortions on Time Scales from Nanoseconds up to Tens of Microseconds

Fast tuning of the transition frequency of superconducting qubits using magnetic flux is essential, for example, for realizing high-fidelity two-qubit gates with low leakage or for reducing errors in dispersive qubit readout. To apply accurately shaped flux pulses, signal distortions induced by the flux control lines need to be carefully compensated for. This requires their in situ characterization at the reference plane of the qubit. However, many existing approaches are limited in time resolution or in pulse duration. Here, we overcome these limitations and demonstrate accurate flux control with sub-permille residual frequency errors on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to tens of microseconds. We achieve this by combining two complementary methods to characterize and compensate for pulse distortions. We have deployed this approach successfully in a quantum error correction experiment calibrating 24 flux-activated two-qubit gates. Reliable calibration methods, as the ones presented here, are essential in experiments scaling up superconducting quantum processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Experimentally Informed Decoding of Stabilizer Codes Based on Syndrome Correlations

High-fidelity decoding of quantum error correction codes relies on an accurate experimental model of the physical errors occurring in the device. Because error probabilities can depend on the context of the applied operations, the error model is ideally calibrated using the same circuit as is used for the error correction experiment. Here, we present an experimental approach guided by a novel analytical formula to characterize the probability of independent errors using correlations in the syndrome data generated by executing the error correction circuit. Using the method on a distance-three surface code, we analyze error channels that flip an arbitrary number of syndrome elements, including Pauli Y errors, hook errors, multi-qubit errors, and leakage, in addition to standard Pauli X and Z errors. We use the method to find the optimal weights for a minimum-weight perfect matching decoder without relying on a theoretical error model. Additionally, we investigate whether improved knowledge of the Pauli Y error channel, based on correlating the X- and Z-type error syndromes, can be exploited to enhance matching decoding. Furthermore, we find correlated errors that flip many syndrome elements over up-to-eight cycles, potentially caused by leakage of the data qubits out of the computational subspace. The presented method provides the tools for accurately calibrating a broad family of decoders, beyond the minimum-weight perfect matching decoder, without relying on prior knowledge of the error model.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Realizing Lattice Surgery on Two Distance-Three Repetition Codes with Superconducting Qubits

Quantum error correction is needed for quantum computers to be capable of fault-tolerantly executing algorithms using hundreds of logical qubits. Recent experiments have demonstrated subthreshold error rates for state preservation of a single logical qubit. In addition, the realization of universal quantum computation requires the implementation of logical entangling gates. Lattice surgery offers a practical approach for implementing such gates, particularly in planar quantum processor layouts. In this work, we demonstrate lattice surgery between two distance-three repetition-code qubits by splitting a single distance-three surface-code qubit. Using a quantum circuit fault-tolerant to bit-flip errors, we achieve an improvement in the value of the decoded $ZZ$ logical two-qubit observable compared to a similar non-encoded circuit. By preparing the surface-code qubit in initial states parametrized by a varying polar angle, we evaluate the performance of the lattice surgery operation for non-cardinal states on the logical Bloch sphere and employ logical two-qubit tomography to reconstruct the Pauli transfer matrix of the operation. In this way, we demonstrate the functional building blocks needed for lattice surgery operations on larger-distance codes based on superconducting circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Combining laser cooling and Zeeman deceleration for precision spectroscopy in supersonic beams

Precision spectroscopic measurements in atoms and molecules play an increasingly important role in chemistry and physics, e.g., to characterize structure and dynamics at long timescales, to determine physical constants, or to search for physics beyond the standard model of particle physics. In this article, we demonstrate the combination of Zeeman deceleration and transverse laser cooling to generate slow (mean velocity of 175 m/s) and transversely ultracold ($T_\perp \approx 135 \,\mu$K) supersonic beams of metastable $(1s)(2s)\,^3S_1$ He (He$^*$) for precision spectroscopy. The curved-wavefront laser-cooling approach is used to achieve large capture velocities and high He$^*$ number densities. The beam properties are characterized by imaging, time-of-flight and high-resolution spectroscopic methods, and the factors limiting the Doppler widths in single-photon spectroscopic measurements of the $(1 s)(40 p) \,^3 P_J \, \leftarrow (1 s)(2 s) \,^3 S_1$ transition at UV frequencies around $1.15\times 10^{15}$ Hz are analyzed. In particular, the use of skimmers to geometrically confine the beam in the transverse directions is examined and shown to not always lead to a reduction of the Doppler width. Linewidths as narrow as 5 MHz could be obtained, enabling the determination of line centers with a precision of $\Delta \nu/\nu$ of $4\times 10^{-11}$ limited by the signal-to-noise ratio. Numerical particle-trajectory simulations are used to interpret the experimental observations and validate the conclusions.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Device-Independent Randomness Amplification

Successful realization of Bell tests has settled an 80-year-long debate, proving the existence of correlations which cannot be explained by a local realistic model. Recent experimental progress allowed to rule out any possible loopholes in these tests, and opened up the possibility of applications in cryptography envisaged more than three decades ago. A prominent example of such an application is device-independent quantum key distribution, which has recently been demonstrated. One remaining gap in all existing experiments, however, is that access to perfect randomness is assumed. To tackle this problem, the concept of randomness amplification has been introduced, allowing to generate such randomness from a weak source -- a task impossible in classical physics. In this work, we demonstrate the amplification of imperfect randomness coming from a physical source. It is achieved by building on two recent developments: The first is a theoretical protocol implementing the concept of randomness amplification within an experimentally realistic setup, which however requires a combination of the degree of Bell inequality violation (S-value) and the amount of data not attained previously. The second is experimental progress enabling the execution of a loophole-free Bell test with superconducting circuits, which offers a platform to reach the necessary combination. Our experiment marks an important step in achieving the theoretical physical limits of privacy and randomness generation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Realization of Constant-Depth Fan-Out with Real-Time Feedforward on a Superconducting Quantum Processor

When using unitary gate sequences, the growth in depth of many quantum circuits with output size poses significant obstacles to practical quantum computation. The quantum fan-out operation, which reduces the circuit depth of quantum algorithms such as the quantum Fourier transform and Shor's algorithm, is an example that can be realized in constant depth independent of the output size. Here, we demonstrate a quantum fan-out gate with real-time feedforward on up to four output qubits using a superconducting quantum processor. By performing quantum state tomography on the output states, we benchmark our gate with input states spanning the entire Bloch sphere. We decompose the output-state error into a set of independently characterized error contributions. We extrapolate our constant-depth circuit to offer a scaling advantage compared to the unitary fan-out sequence beyond 25 output qubits with feedforward control, or beyond 17 output qubits if the classical feedforward latency is negligible. Our work highlights the potential of mid-circuit measurements combined with real-time conditional operations to improve the efficiency of complex quantum algorithms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Deterministic generation of a 20-qubit two-dimensional photonic cluster state

Multidimensional cluster states are a key resource for robust quantum communication, measurement-based quantum computing and quantum metrology. Here, we present a device capable of emitting large-scale entangled microwave photonic states in a two dimensional ladder structure. The device consists of a pair of coupled superconducting transmon qubits which are each tuneably coupled to a common output waveguide. This architecture permits entanglement between each transmon and a deterministically emitted photonic qubit. By interleaving two-qubit gates with controlled photon emission, we generate 2 x n grids of time- and frequency-multiplexed cluster states of itinerant microwave photons. We measure a signature of localizable entanglement across up to 20 photonic qubits. We expect the device architecture to be capable of generating a wide range of other tensor network states such as tree graph states, repeater states or the ground state of the toric code, and to be readily scalable to generate larger and higher dimensional states.

quant-ph↗