arXiv subjects

Kilian Hanke

Publications and source records attributed to Kilian Hanke.

3 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↗

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.

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arXiv2024

Mitigating Losses of Superconducting Qubits Strongly Coupled to Defect Modes

The dominant contribution to the energy relaxation of state-of-the-art superconducting qubits is often attributed to their coupling to an ensemble of material defects which behave as two-level systems. These defects have varying microscopic characteristics which result in a large range of observable defect properties such as resonant frequencies, coherence times and coupling rates to qubits $g$. Here, we investigate strategies to mitigate losses to the family of defects that strongly couple to qubits ($g/2\pi\ge$ 0.5 MHz). Such strongly coupled defects are particularly detrimental to the coherence of qubits and to the fidelities of operations relying on frequency excursions, such as flux-activated two-qubit gates. To assess their impact, we perform swap spectroscopy on 92 frequency-tunable qubits and quantify the spectral density of these strongly coupled modes. We show that the frequency configuration of the defects is rearranged by warming up the sample to room temperature, whereas the total number of defects on a processor tends to remain constant. We then explore methods for fabricating qubits with a reduced number of strongly coupled defect modes by systematically measuring their spectral density for decreasing Josephson junction dimensions and for various surface cleaning methods. Our results provide insights into the properties of strongly coupled defect modes and show the benefits of minimizing Josephson junction dimensions to improve qubit properties.

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