arXiv subjects

David B. Haviland

Publications and source records attributed to David B. Haviland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Solving the inverse parametric problem

We present a method to calculate the frequency components of a pump waveform driving a parametric oscillator, which realizes a desired frequency mixing or scattering between modes. The method is validated by numerical analysis and we study its sensitivity to added Gaussian noise. A series of experiments apply the method and demonstrate its ability to realize complex scattering processes involving many modes at microwave frequencies, including non-reciprocal mode circulation. We also present an approximate method to dynamically control mode scattering, capable of rapidly routing signals between modes in a prescribed manner. These methods are useful tools for encoding and manipulating continuous variable quantum information with multi-modal Gaussian states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Continuous-variable two-dimensional cluster states in the microwave domain

We demonstrate the experimental realization of two-dimensional, continuous variable (CV) cluster states between 191 microwave frequency modes. This result is obtained by exposing vacuum fluctuations to the input of a Josephson Parametric Amplifier, parametrically pumped by a sum of coherent tones around twice its resonant frequency. By carefully tuning pump frequencies, amplitudes, and phases we engineer the interference between mixing products and realize honeycomb and square lattice CV cluster states with three and four pump tones respectively. We prove the presence of the cluster states with a suitable nullifier test, reaching up to $-1.2$ dB of squeezing of the cluster state's nullifiers. We study hidden entanglement (HE) and show no hidden entanglement up to $\sim -1$ dB of squeezing and negligible HE at optimal squeezing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Non-reciprocal scattering in a microwave frequency comb

We investigate nonreciprocal scattering within the modes of a microwave frequency comb. Adjusting the pump frequencies, amplitudes, and phases of a Josephson parametric oscillator, we control constructive interference for the $m \longrightarrow \ell$ scattering processes, while concurrently achieving destructive interference for the inverse process $\ell \longrightarrow m$. We outline the methodology for realizing nonreciprocity in the context of two-mode isolation and a three-mode circulation, which we extend to multiple modes. We find good agreement between the experiments and a linearized theoretical model. Nonreciprocal scattering expands the toolset for parametric control, with the potential to engineer alternative quantum correlations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Low-temperature AFM with a microwave cavity optomechanical transducer

We demonstrate AFM imaging with a microcantilever force transducer where an integrated superconducting microwave resonant circuit detects cantilever deflection using the principles of cavity optomechanics. We discuss the detector responsivity and added noise pointing to its crucial role in the context of force sensitivity. Through analysis of noise measurements we determine the effective temperature of the cantilever eigenmode and we determine the region of detector operation in which the sensor is thermal-noise limited. Our analysis shows that the force-sensor design is a significant improvement over piezoelectric force sensors commonly used in low-temperature AFM. We discuss the potential for further improvement of the sensor design to achieve optimal detection at the standard quantum limit. We demonstrate AFM operation with surface-tracking feedback in both amplitude-modulation and frequency-modulation modes.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Continuous-variable square-ladder cluster states in a microwave frequency comb

We describe an experiment demonstrating the generation of three independent square-ladder continuous-variable cluster states with up to 94 qumodes of a microwave frequency comb. This entanglement structure at a large scale is realized by injecting vacuum fluctuations into a Josephson Parametric Amplifier pumped by three coherent signals around twice its resonance frequency, each having a particular well-defined phase relation. We reach up to 1.4 dB of squeezing of the nullifier which verifies the cluster state on the square ladder graph. Our results are consistent with a more familiar measure of two-mode squeezing, where we find up to 5.42 dB for one pump, and up to 1 dB for three pumps.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Sensing force gradients with cavity optomechanics while evading backaction

We study force-gradient sensing with a coherently driven mechanical resonator and phase-sensitive detection of motion through the two-tone backaction evading measurement of cavity optomechanics. The response of the optomechanical system, solved by numerical integration of the classical equations of motion, shows an extended region which is monotonic to changes in force gradient. We use Floquet theory to model the fluctuations, which rise only slightly above that of the usual backaction evading measurement in the presence of the mechanical drive. The monotonic response and minimal backaction are advantageous for applications such as atomic force microscopy.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Control of multi-modal scattering in a microwave frequency comb

Control over the coupling between multiple modes of a frequency comb is an important step toward measurement-based quantum computation with a continuous-variable system. We demonstrate the creation of square-ladder correlation graphs in a microwave comb with 95 modes. The graphs are engineered through precise control of the relative phase of three pumps applied to a Josephson parametric oscillator. Experimental measurement of the mode scattering matrix is in good agreement with theoretical predictions based on a linearized equation of motion of the parametric oscillator. The digital methods used to create and measure the correlations are easily scaled to more modes and more pumps, with the potential to tailor a specific correlation graph topology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Intrinsic Kerr amplification for microwave electromechanics

Electromechanical transduction gain of 21 dB is realized in a micro-cantilever resonant force sensor operated in the unresolved-sideband regime. Strain-dependent kinetic inductance weakly couples cantilever motion to a superconducting nonlinear resonant circuit. A single pump generates motional sidebands and parametrically amplifies them via four-wave mixing. We study the gain and added noise, and we analyze potential benefits of this integrated amplification process in the context force sensitivity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Temperature dependence of microwave losses in lumped-element resonators made from superconducting nanowires with high kinetic inductance

We study the response of several microwave resonators made from superconducting NbTiN thin-film meandering nanowires with large kinetic inductance, having different circuit topology and coupling to the transmission line. Reflection measurements reveal the parameters of the circuit and analysis of their temperature dependence in the range 1.7-6 K extract the superconducting energy gap and critical temperature. The lumped-element LC resonator, valid in our frequency range of interest, allows us to predict the quasiparticle contribution to internal loss, independent of circuit topology and characteristic impedance. Our analysis shows that the internal quality factor is limited not by thermal-equilibrium quasiparticles, but an additional temperature-dependent source of internal microwave loss.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Intermodulation spectroscopy and the nonlinear response of two-level systems in superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators

Two-level system (TLS) loss is typically limiting the coherence of superconducting quantum circuits. The loss induced by TLS defects is nonlinear, resulting in quality factors with a strong dependence on the circulating microwave power. We observe frequency mixing due to this nonlinearity by applying a two-tone drive to a coplanar waveguide resonator and measuring the intermodulation products using a multifrequency lock-in technique. This intermodulation spectroscopy method provides an efficient approach to characterizing TLS loss in superconducting circuits. Using harmonic balance reconstruction, we recover the nonlinear parameters of the device-TLS interaction, which are in good agreement with the standard tunnelling model for TLSs.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Design, fabrication and characterization of kinetic-inductive force sensors for scanning probe applications

We describe a transducer for low-temperature atomic force microscopy based on electromechanical coupling due to a strain-dependent kinetic inductance of a superconducting nanowire. The force sensor is a bending triangular plate (cantilever) whose deflection is measured via a shift in the resonant frequency of a high-Q superconducting microwave resonator at 4.5 GHz. We present design simulations including mechanical finite-element modeling of surface strain and electromagnetic simulations of meandering nanowires with large kinetic inductance. We discuss a lumped-element model of the force sensor and describe the role of an additional shunt inductance for tuning the coupling to the transmission line used to measure the microwave resonance. A detailed description of our fabrication is presented, including information about the process parameters used for each layer. We also discuss the fabrication of sharp tips on the cantilever using focused electron beam-induced deposition of platinum. Finally, we present measurements that characterize the spread of mechanical resonant frequency, the temperature dependence of the microwave resonance, and the sensor's operation as an electromechanical transducer of force.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Characterization and benchmarking of a phase-sensitive two-qubit gate using direct digital synthesis

We implement an iSWAP gate with two transmon qubits using a flux-tunable coupler. Precise control of the relative phase of the qubit-control pulses and the parametric-coupler drive is achieved with a multi-channel instrument called Presto using direct digital synthesis (DDS), a promising technique for scaling up quantum systems. We describe the process of tuning and benchmarking the iSWAP gate, where the relative phase of the pulses is controlled via software. We perform the iSWAP gate in 290 ns, validate it with quantum-state tomography, and measure 2\% error with interleaved randomized benchmarking.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Kinetic Inductive Electromechanical Transduction for Nanoscale Force Sensing

We use the principles of cavity optomechanics to design a resonant mechanical force sensor for atomic force microscopy. The sensor is based on a type of electromechanical coupling, dual to traditional capacitive coupling, whereby the motion of a cantilever induces surface strain that causes a change in the kinetic inductance of a superconducting nanowire. The cavity is realized by a compact microwave-plasma mode with an equivalent $LC$ circuit involving the kinetic inductance of the nanowire. The device is fully coplanar and we show how to transform the cavity impedance for optimal coupling to the transmission line and the following amplifier. For the device presented here, we estimate the bare kinetic inductive mechano-electric coupling (KIMEC) rate $g_0 / 2 π$ in the range 3-10 Hz. We demonstrate phase-sensitive detection of cantilever motion using a multifrequency pumping and measurement scheme.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Multipartite entanglement in a microwave frequency comb

Significant progress has been made with multipartite entanglement of discrete qubits, but continuous variable systems may provide a more scalable path toward entanglement of large ensembles. We demonstrate multipartite entanglement in a microwave frequency comb generated by a Josephson parametric amplifier subject to a bichromatic pump. We find 64 correlated modes in the transmission line using a multifrequency digital signal processing platform. Full inseparability is verified in a subset of seven modes. Our method can be expanded to generate even more entangled modes in the near future.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Measurement and control of a superconducting quantum processor with a fully-integrated radio-frequency system on a chip

We describe a digital microwave platform called Presto, designed for measurement and control of multiple quantum bits (qubits) and based on the third-generation radio-frequency system on a chip. Presto uses direct digital synthesis to create signals up to 9 GHz on 16 synchronous output ports, while synchronously analyzing response on 16 input ports. Presto has 16 DC-bias outputs, 4 inputs and 4 outputs for digital triggers or markers, and two continuous-wave outputs for synthesizing frequencies up to 15 GHz. Scaling to a large number of qubits is enabled through deterministic synchronization of multiple Presto units. A Python application programming interface configures a firmware for synthesis and analysis of pulses, coordinated by an event sequencer. The analysis integrates template matching (matched filtering) and low-latency (184 - 254 ns) feedback to enable a wide range of multi-qubit experiments. We demonstrate Presto's capabilities with experiments on a sample consisting of two superconducting qubits connected via a flux-tunable coupler. We show single-shot readout and active reset of a single qubit; randomized benchmarking of single-qubit gates showing 99.972% fidelity, limited by the coherence time of the qubit; and calibration of a two-qubit iSWAP gate.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Robust preparation of Wigner-negative states with optimized SNAP-displacement sequences

Hosting non-classical states of light in three-dimensional microwave cavities has emerged as a promising paradigm for continuous-variable quantum information processing. Here we experimentally demonstrate high-fidelity generation of a range of Wigner-negative states useful for quantum computation, such as Schrödinger-cat states, binomial states, Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states, as well as cubic phase states. The latter states have been long sought after in quantum optics and were never achieved experimentally before. To do so, we use a sequence of interleaved selective number-dependent arbitrary phase (SNAP) gates and displacements. We optimize the state preparation in two steps. First we use a gradient-descent algorithm to optimize the parameters of the SNAP and displacement gates. Then we optimize the envelope of the pulses implementing the SNAP gates. Our results show that this way of creating highly non-classical states in a harmonic oscillator is robust to fluctuations of the system parameters such as the qubit frequency and the dispersive shift.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Squeezing and multimode entanglement of surface acoustic wave phonons

Exploiting multiple modes in a quantum acoustic device could enable applications in quantum information in a hardware-efficient setup, including quantum simulation in a synthetic dimension and continuous-variable quantum computing with cluster states.We develop a multimode surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) integrated in one of the Bragg reflectors. The interaction with the SQUID-shunted mirror gives rise to coupling between the more than 20 accessible resonator modes. We exploit this coupling to demonstrate two-mode squeezing of SAW phonons, as well as four-mode multipartite entanglement. Our results open avenues for continuous-variable quantum computing in a compact hybrid quantum system.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Fast multifrequency measurement of nonlinear conductance

We describe a phase-coherent multifrequency lock-in measurement technique that uses the inverse Fourier transform to reconstruct the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic (IVC) of a nanoscale junction. The method provides for a separation of the galvanic and displacement currents in the junction, and easy cancellation of the parasitic displacement current from the measurement leads. These two features allow us to overcome traditional limitations imposed by the low conductance of the junction and high capacitance of the leads, thus providing an increase in measurement speed of several orders of magnitude. We demonstrate the method in the context of conductive atomic force microscopy, acquiring IVCs at every pixel while scanning at standard imaging speed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗