arXiv subjects

Jonas Krause

Publications and source records attributed to Jonas Krause.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Quantum Functional Information through the Evolution of Random Circuits

We introduce Quantum Functional Information (QFI), a new metric to quantify the rarity and utility of quantum states and circuits. Unlike standard measures such as fidelity or entropy, QFI captures the balance between functionality and rarity within the Hilbert space. We validate QFI through two approaches: random circuit sampling and evolutionary algorithms guided by fidelity or QFI objectives. Random sampling shows that states with near-perfect fidelity are less informational than slightly suboptimal but rarer states, while correlations reveal that high fidelity typically requires fewer gates and shallower circuits. Evolutionary results demonstrate that fidelity-only optimization converges quickly but reduces diversity and robustness, whereas QFI optimization sustains exploration, generates richer structures, and favors robust circuits with high fidelity. These findings position QFI as a practical and interpretable tool for circuit design, benchmarking, variational quantum algorithms, and exploring emergent patterns in quantum systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Observation of Josephson Harmonics in Tunnel Junctions

Approaches to developing large-scale superconducting quantum processors must cope with the numerous microscopic degrees of freedom that are ubiquitous in solid-state devices. State-of-the-art superconducting qubits employ aluminum oxide (AlO$_x$) tunnel Josephson junctions as the sources of nonlinearity necessary to perform quantum operations. Analyses of these junctions typically assume an idealized, purely sinusoidal current-phase relation. However, this relation is only expected to hold in the limit of vanishingly low-transparency channels in the AlO$_x$ barrier. Here we show that the standard current-phase relation fails to accurately describe the energy spectra of transmon artificial atoms across various samples and laboratories. Instead, a mesoscopic model of tunneling through an inhomogeneous AlO$_x$ barrier predicts percent-level contributions from higher Josephson harmonics. By including these in the transmon Hamiltonian, we obtain orders of magnitude better agreement between the computed and measured energy spectra. The presence and impact of Josephson harmonics has important implications for developing AlO$_x$-based quantum technologies including quantum computers and parametric amplifiers. As an example, we show that engineered Josephson harmonics can reduce the charge dispersion and the associated errors in transmon qubits by an order of magnitude, while preserving their anharmonicity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Motional resonances of three-dimensional dual-species Coulomb crystals

We investigate the motional resonances of dual-species Coulomb crystals comprised of $^9$Be$^+$ and $^{24}$Mg$^+$ ions held in a 4-rod linear Paul trap. Our experimental data and simulations show that the secular motion of such mixed crystals has rich dynamics. Their secular spectra can differ significantly from those of pure ion crystals. We propose a simple model based on mechanical coupling with Coulomb interactions between the two different ion species that explains many features of the secular spectrum. Our findings contribute to a more reliable identification of the ion species in mixed crystals.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Parity Detection of Propagating Microwave Fields

The parity of the number of elementary excitations present in a quantum system provides important insights into its physical properties. Parity measurements are used, for example, to tomographically reconstruct quantum states or to determine if a decay of an excitation has occurred, information which can be used for quantum error correction in computation or communication protocols. Here we demonstrate a versatile parity detector for propagating microwaves, which distinguishes between radiation fields containing an even or odd number n of photons, both in a single-shot measurement and without perturbing the parity of the detected field. We showcase applications of the detector for direct Wigner tomography of propagating microwaves and heralded generation of Schrödinger cat states. This parity detection scheme is applicable over a broad frequency range and may prove useful, for example, for heralded or fault-tolerant quantum communication protocols.

quant-ph↗