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Fay E. Hudson

Publications and source records attributed to Fay E. Hudson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A 300 mm foundry silicon spin qubit unit cell exceeding 99% fidelity in all operations

Fabrication of quantum processors in advanced 300 mm wafer-scale complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) foundries provides a unique scaling pathway towards commercially viable quantum computing with potentially millions of qubits on a single chip. Here, we show precise qubit operation of a silicon two-qubit device made in a 300 mm semiconductor processing line. The key metrics including single- and two-qubit control fidelities exceed 99% and state preparation and measurement fidelity exceeds 99.9%, as evidenced by gate set tomography (GST). We report coherence and lifetimes up to $T_\mathrm{2}^{\mathrm{*}} = 30.4$ $μ$s, $T_\mathrm{2}^{\mathrm{Hahn}} = 803$ $μ$s, and $T_1 = 6.3$ s. Crucially, the dominant operational errors originate from residual nuclear spin carrying isotopes, solvable with further isotopic purification, rather than charge noise arising from the dielectric environment. Our results answer the longstanding question whether the favourable properties including high-fidelity operation and long coherence times can be preserved when transitioning from a tailored academic to an industrial semiconductor fabrication technology.

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Certifying the quantumness of a nuclear spin qudit through its uniform precession

Spin precession is a textbook example of dynamics of a quantum system that exactly mimics its classical counterpart. Here we challenge this view by certifying the quantumness of exotic states of a nuclear spin through its uniform precession. The key to this result is measuring the positivity, instead of the expectation value, of the $x$-projection of the precessing spin, and using a spin > 1/2 qudit, that is not restricted to semi-classical spin coherent states. The experiment is performed on a single spin-7/2 $^{123}$Sb nucleus, implanted in a silicon nanoelectronic device, amenable to high-fidelity preparation, control, and projective single-shot readout. Using Schrödinger cat states and other bespoke states of the nucleus, we violate the classical bound by 19 standard deviations, proving that no classical probability distribution can explain the statistic of this spin precession, and highlighting our ability to prepare quantum resource states with high fidelity in a single atomic-scale qudit.

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Violating Bell's inequality in gate-defined quantum dots

Superior computational power promised by quantum computers utilises the fundamental quantum mechanical principle of entanglement. However, achieving entanglement and verifying that the generated state does not follow the principle of local causality has proven difficult for spin qubits in gate-defined quantum dots, as it requires simultaneously high concurrence values and readout fidelities to break the classical bound imposed by Bell's inequality. Here we employ heralded initialization and calibration via gate set tomography (GST), to reduce all relevant errors and push the fidelities of the full 2-qubit gate set above 99 %, including state preparation and measurement (SPAM). We demonstrate a 97.17 % Bell state fidelity without correcting for readout errors and violate Bell's inequality with a Bell signal of S = 2.731 close to the theoretical maximum of $2\sqrt{2}$. Our measurements exceed the classical limit even at elevated temperatures of 1.1 K or entanglement lifetimes of 100 $μs$.

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Spin Qubits with Scalable milli-kelvin CMOS Control

A key virtue of spin qubits is their sub-micron footprint, enabling a single silicon chip to host the millions of qubits required to execute useful quantum algorithms with error correction. With each physical qubit needing multiple control lines however, a fundamental barrier to scale is the extreme density of connections that bridge quantum devices to their external control and readout hardware. A promising solution is to co-locate the control system proximal to the qubit platform at milli-kelvin temperatures, wired-up via miniaturized interconnects. Even so, heat and crosstalk from closely integrated control have potential to degrade qubit performance, particularly for two-qubit entangling gates based on exchange coupling that are sensitive to electrical noise. Here, we benchmark silicon MOS-style electron spin qubits controlled via heterogeneously-integrated cryo-CMOS circuits with a low enough power density to enable scale-up. Demonstrating that cryo-CMOS can efficiently enable universal logic operations for spin qubits, we go on to show that mill-kelvin control has little impact on the performance of single- and two-qubit gates. Given the complexity of our milli-kelvin CMOS platform, with some 100-thousand transistors, these results open the prospect of scalable control based on the tight packaging of spin qubits with a chiplet style control architecture.

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Bounds to electron spin qubit variability for scalable CMOS architectures

Spins of electrons in CMOS quantum dots combine exquisite quantum properties and scalable fabrication. In the age of quantum technology, however, the metrics that crowned Si/SiO2 as the microelectronics standard need to be reassessed with respect to their impact upon qubit performance. We chart the spin qubit variability due to the unavoidable atomic-scale roughness of the Si/SiO$_2$ interface, compiling experiments in 12 devices, and developing theoretical tools to analyse these results. Atomistic tight binding and path integral Monte Carlo methods are adapted for describing fluctuations in devices with millions of atoms by directly analysing their wavefunctions and electron paths instead of their energy spectra. We correlate the effect of roughness with the variability in qubit position, deformation, valley splitting, valley phase, spin-orbit coupling and exchange coupling. These variabilities are found to be bounded and lie within the tolerances for scalable architectures for quantum computing as long as robust control methods are incorporated.

quant-ph↗

Assessment of error variation in high-fidelity two-qubit gates in silicon

Achieving high-fidelity entangling operations between qubits consistently is essential for the performance of multi-qubit systems and is a crucial factor in achieving fault-tolerant quantum processors. Solid-state platforms are particularly exposed to errors due to materials-induced variability between qubits, which leads to performance inconsistencies. Here we study the errors in a spin qubit processor, tying them to their physical origins. We leverage this knowledge to demonstrate consistent and repeatable operation with above 99% fidelity of two-qubit gates in the technologically important silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor (SiMOS) quantum dot platform. We undertake a detailed study of these operations by analysing the physical errors and fidelities in multiple devices through numerous trials and extended periods to ensure that we capture the variation and the most common error types. Physical error sources include the slow nuclear and electrical noise on single qubits and contextual noise. The identification of the noise sources can be used to maintain performance within tolerance as well as inform future device fabrication. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of qubit design, feedback systems, and robust gates on implementing scalable, high-fidelity control strategies. These results are achieved by using three different characterization methods, we measure entangling gate fidelities ranging from 96.8% to 99.8%. Our analysis tools identify the causes of qubit degradation and offer ways understand their physical mechanisms. These results highlight both the capabilities and challenges for the scaling up of silicon spin-based qubits into full-scale quantum processors.

quant-ph↗

Entangling gates on degenerate spin qubits dressed by a global field

Coherently dressed spins have shown promising results as building blocks for future quantum computers owing to their resilience to environmental noise and their compatibility with global control fields. This mode of operation allows for more amenable qubit architecture requirements and simplifies signal routing on the chip. However, multi-qubit operations, such as qubit addressability and two-qubit gates, are yet to be demonstrated to establish global control in combination with dressed qubits as a viable path to universal quantum computing. Here we demonstrate simultaneous on-resonance driving of degenerate qubits using a global field while retaining addressability for qubits with equal Larmor frequencies. Furthermore, we implement SWAP oscillations during on-resonance driving, constituting the demonstration of driven two-qubit gates. Significantly, our findings highlight the fragility of entangling gates between superposition states and how dressing can increase the noise robustness. These results represent a crucial milestone towards global control operation with dressed qubits. It also opens a door to interesting spin physics on degenerate spins.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Impact of electrostatic crosstalk on spin qubits in dense CMOS quantum dot arrays

Quantum processors based on integrated nanoscale silicon spin qubits are a promising platform for highly scalable quantum computation. Current CMOS spin qubit processors consist of dense gate arrays to define the quantum dots, making them susceptible to crosstalk from capacitive coupling between a dot and its neighbouring gates. Small but sizeable spin-orbit interactions can transfer this electrostatic crosstalk to the spin g-factors, creating a dependence of the Larmor frequency on the electric field created by gate electrodes positioned even tens of nanometers apart. By studying the Stark shift from tens of spin qubits measured in nine different CMOS devices, we developed a theoretical frawework that explains how electric fields couple to the spin of the electrons in increasingly complex arrays, including those electric fluctuations that limit qubit dephasing times $T_2^*$. The results will aid in the design of robust strategies to scale CMOS quantum technology.

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Methods for transverse and longitudinal spin-photon coupling in silicon quantum dots with intrinsic spin-orbit effect

In a full-scale quantum computer with a fault-tolerant architecture, having scalable, long-range interaction between qubits is expected to be a highly valuable resource. One promising method of achieving this is through the light-matter interaction between spins in semiconductors and photons in superconducting cavities. This paper examines the theory of both transverse and longitudinal spin-photon coupling and their applications in the silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor (SiMOS) platform. We propose a method of coupling which uses the intrinsic spin-orbit interaction arising from orbital degeneracies in SiMOS qubits. Using theoretical analysis and experimental data, we show that the strong coupling regime is achievable in the transverse scheme. We also evaluate the feasibility of a longitudinal coupling driven by an AC modulation on the qubit. These coupling methods eschew the requirement for an external micromagnet, enhancing prospects for scalability and integration into a large-scale quantum computer.

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High-fidelity operation and algorithmic initialisation of spin qubits above one kelvin

The encoding of qubits in semiconductor spin carriers has been recognised as a promising approach to a commercial quantum computer that can be lithographically produced and integrated at scale. However, the operation of the large number of qubits required for advantageous quantum applications will produce a thermal load exceeding the available cooling power of cryostats at millikelvin temperatures. As the scale-up accelerates, it becomes imperative to establish fault-tolerant operation above 1 kelvin, where the cooling power is orders of magnitude higher. Here, we tune up and operate spin qubits in silicon above 1 kelvin, with fidelities in the range required for fault-tolerant operation at such temperatures. We design an algorithmic initialisation protocol to prepare a pure two-qubit state even when the thermal energy is substantially above the qubit energies, and incorporate radio-frequency readout to achieve fidelities up to 99.34 per cent for both readout and initialisation. Importantly, we demonstrate a single-qubit Clifford gate fidelity of 99.85 per cent, and a two-qubit gate fidelity of 98.92 per cent. These advances overcome the fundamental limitation that the thermal energy must be well below the qubit energies for high-fidelity operation to be possible, surmounting a major obstacle in the pathway to scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computation.

quant-ph↗

Improved placement precision of implanted donor spin qubits in silicon using molecule ions

Donor spins in silicon-28 ($^{28}$Si) are among the most performant qubits in the solid state, offering record coherence times and gate fidelities above 99%. Donor spin qubits can be fabricated using the semiconductor-industry compatible method of deterministic ion implantation. Here we show that the precision of this fabrication method can be boosted by implanting molecule ions instead of single atoms. The bystander ions, co-implanted with the dopant of interest, carry additional kinetic energy and thus increase the detection confidence of deterministic donor implantation employing single ion detectors to signal the induced electron-hole pairs. This allows the placement uncertainty of donor qubits to be minimised without compromising on detection confidence. We investigate the suitability of phosphorus difluoride (PF$_2^+$) molecule ions to produce high quality P donor qubits. Since $^{19}$F nuclei have a spin of $I = 1/2$, it is imperative to ensure that they do not hyperfine couple to P donor electrons as they would cause decoherence by adding magnetic noise. Using secondary ion mass spectrometry, we confirm that F diffuses away from the active region of qubit devices while the P donors remain close to their original location during a donor activation anneal. PF$_2$-implanted qubit devices were then fabricated and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were performed on the P donor electron. A pure dephasing time of $T_2^* = 20.5 \pm 0.5$ $μ$s and a coherence time of $T_2^{Hahn} = 424 \pm 5$ $μ$s were extracted for the P donor electron-values comparable to those found in previous P-implanted qubit devices. Closer investigation of the P donor ESR spectrum revealed that no $^{19}$F nuclear spins were found in the vicinity of the P donor. Molecule ions therefore show great promise for producing high-precision deterministically-implanted arrays of long-lived donor spin qubits.

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Improved Single-Shot Qubit Readout Using Twin RF-SET Charge Correlations

High fidelity qubit readout is critical in order to obtain the thresholds needed to implement quantum error correction protocols and achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing. Large-scale silicon qubit devices will have densely-packed arrays of quantum dots with multiple charge sensors that are, on average, farther away from the quantum dots, entailing a reduction in readout fidelities. Here, we present a readout technique that enhances the readout fidelity in a linear SiMOS 4-dot array by amplifying correlations between a pair of single-electron transistors, known as a twin SET. By recording and subsequently correlating the twin SET traces as we modulate the dot detuning across a charge transition, we demonstrate a reduction in the charge readout infidelity by over one order of magnitude compared to traditional readout methods. We also study the spin-to-charge conversion errors introduced by the modulation technique, and conclude that faster modulation frequencies avoid relaxation-induced errors without introducing significant spin flip errors, favouring the use of the technique at short integration times. This method not only allows for faster and higher fidelity qubit measurements, but it also enhances the signal corresponding to charge transitions that take place farther away from the sensors, enabling a way to circumvent the reduction in readout fidelities in large arrays of qubits.

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Navigating the 16-dimensional Hilbert space of a high-spin donor qudit with electric and magnetic fields

Efficient scaling and flexible control are key aspects of useful quantum computing hardware. Spins in semiconductors combine quantum information processing with electrons, holes or nuclei, control with electric or magnetic fields, and scalable coupling via exchange or dipole interaction. However, accessing large Hilbert space dimensions has remained challenging, due to the short-distance nature of the interactions. Here, we present an atom-based semiconductor platform where a 16-dimensional Hilbert space is built by the combined electron-nuclear states of a single antimony donor in silicon. We demonstrate the ability to navigate this large Hilbert space using both electric and magnetic fields, with gate fidelity exceeding 99.8% on the nuclear spin, and unveil fine details of the system Hamiltonian and its susceptibility to control and noise fields. These results establish high-spin donors as a rich platform for practical quantum information and to explore quantum foundations.

quant-ph↗

Control of dephasing in spin qubits during coherent transport in silicon

One of the key pathways towards scalability of spin-based quantum computing systems lies in achieving long-range interactions between electrons and increasing their inter-connectivity. Coherent spin transport is one of the most promising strategies to achieve this architectural advantage. Experimental results have previously demonstrated high fidelity transportation of spin qubits between two quantum dots in silicon and identified possible sources of error. In this theoretical study, we investigate these errors and analyze the impact of tunnel coupling, magnetic field and spin-orbit effects on the spin transfer process. The interplay between these effects gives rise to double dot configurations that include regimes of enhanced decoherence that should be avoided for quantum information processing. These conclusions permit us to extrapolate previous experimental conclusions and rationalize the future design of large scale quantum processors.

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An electrically-driven single-atom `flip-flop' qubit

The spins of atoms and atom-like systems are among the most coherent objects in which to store quantum information. However, the need to address them using oscillating magnetic fields hinders their integration with quantum electronic devices. Here we circumvent this hurdle by operating a single-atom `flip-flop' qubit in silicon, where quantum information is encoded in the electron-nuclear states of a phosphorus donor. The qubit is controlled using local electric fields at microwave frequencies, produced within a metal-oxide-semiconductor device. The electrical drive is mediated by the modulation of the electron-nuclear hyperfine coupling, a method that can be extended to many other atomic and molecular systems. These results pave the way to the construction of solid-state quantum processors where dense arrays of atoms can be controlled using only local electric fields.

quant-ph↗

Beating the thermal limit of qubit initialization with a Bayesian Maxwell's demon

Fault-tolerant quantum computing requires initializing the quantum register in a well-defined fiducial state. In solid-state systems, this is typically achieved through thermalization to a cold reservoir, such that the initialization fidelity is fundamentally limited by temperature. Here, we present a method of preparing a fiducial quantum state with a confidence beyond the thermal limit. It is based on real time monitoring of the qubit through a negative-result measurement -- the equivalent of a `Maxwell's demon' that triggers the experiment only upon the appearance of a qubit in the lowest-energy state. We experimentally apply it to initialize an electron spin qubit in silicon, achieving a ground-state initialization fidelity of 98.9(4)%, corresponding to a 20$\times$ reduction in initialization error compared to the unmonitored system. A fidelity approaching 99.9% could be achieved with realistic improvements in the bandwidth of the amplifier chain or by slowing down the rate of electron tunneling from the reservoir. We use a nuclear spin ancilla, measured in quantum nondemolition mode, to prove the value of the electron initialization fidelity far beyond the intrinsic fidelity of the electron readout. However, the method itself does not require an ancilla for its execution, saving the need for additional resources. The quantitative analysis of the initialization fidelity reveals that a simple picture of spin-dependent electron tunneling does not correctly describe the data. Our digital `Maxwell's demon' can be applied to a wide range of quantum systems, with minimal demands on control and detection hardware.

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Combining n-MOS Charge Sensing with p-MOS Silicon Hole Double Quantum Dots in a CMOS platform

Holes in silicon quantum dots are receiving significant attention due to their potential as fast, tunable, and scalable qubits in semiconductor quantum circuits. Despite this, challenges remain in this material system including difficulties using charge sensing to determine the number of holes in a quantum dot, and in controlling the coupling between adjacent quantum dots. In this work, we address these problems by fabricating an ambipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device using multilayer palladium gates. The device consists of an electron charge sensor adjacent to a hole double quantum dot. We demonstrate control of the spin state via electric dipole spin resonance (EDSR). We achieve smooth control of the inter-dot coupling rate over two orders of magnitude and use the charge sensor to perform spin-to-charge conversion to measure the hole singlet-triplet relaxation time of 11 μs for a known hole occupation. These results provide a path towards improving the quality and controllability of hole spin-qubits.

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Jellybean quantum dots in silicon for qubit coupling and on-chip quantum chemistry

The small size and excellent integrability of silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor (SiMOS) quantum dot spin qubits make them an attractive system for mass-manufacturable, scaled-up quantum processors. Furthermore, classical control electronics can be integrated on-chip, in-between the qubits, if an architecture with sparse arrays of qubits is chosen. In such an architecture qubits are either transported across the chip via shuttling, or coupled via mediating quantum systems over short-to-intermediate distances. This paper investigates the charge and spin characteristics of an elongated quantum dot -- a so-called jellybean quantum dot -- for the prospects of acting as a qubit-qubit coupler. Charge transport, charge sensing and magneto-spectroscopy measurements are performed on a SiMOS quantum dot device at mK temperature, and compared to Hartree-Fock multi-electron simulations. At low electron occupancies where disorder effects and strong electron-electron interaction dominate over the electrostatic confinement potential, the data reveals the formation of three coupled dots, akin to a tunable, artificial molecule. One dot is formed centrally under the gate and two are formed at the edges. At high electron occupancies, these dots merge into one large dot with well-defined spin states, verifying that jellybean dots have the potential to be used as qubit couplers in future quantum computing architectures.

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