arXiv subjects

M. Lenander

Publications and source records attributed to M. Lenander.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2012

Excitation of superconducting qubits from hot non-equilibrium quasiparticles

Superconducting qubits probe environmental defects such as non-equilibrium quasiparticles, an important source of decoherence. We show that "hot" non-equilibrium quasiparticles, with energies above the superconducting gap, affect qubits differently from quasiparticles at the gap, implying qubits can probe the dynamic quasiparticle energy distribution. For hot quasiparticles, we predict a non-neligable increase in the qubit excited state probability P_e. By injecting hot quasiparticles into a qubit, we experimentally measure an increase of P_e in semi-quantitative agreement with the model and rule out the typically assumed thermal distribution.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Dynamic quantum Kerr effect in circuit quantum electrodynamics

A superconducting qubit coupled to a microwave resonator provides a controllable system that enables fundamental studies of light-matter interactions. In the dispersive regime, photons in the resonator exhibit induced frequency and phase shifts which are revealed in the resonator transmission spectrum measured with fixed qubit-resonator detuning. In this static detuning scheme, the phase shift is measured in the far-detuned, linear dispersion regime to avoid measurement-induced demolition of the qubit quantum state. Here we explore the qubit-resonator dispersive interaction over a much broader range of detunings, by using a dynamic procedure where the qubit transition is driven adiabatically. We use resonator Wigner tomography to monitor the interaction, revealing exotic non-linear effects on different photon states, e.g., Fock states, coherent states, and Schrodinger cat states, thereby demonstrating a quantum Kerr effect in the dynamic framework.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Surface spin fluctuations probed with flux noise and coherence in Josephson phase qubits

We measure the dependence of qubit phase coherence and surface spin induced flux noise on inductor loop geometry. While wider inductor traces change neither the flux noise power spectrum nor the qubit dephasing time, increased inductance leads to a simultaneous increase in both. Using our protocol for measuring low frequency flux noise, we make a direct comparison between the flux noise spectrum and qubit phase decay, finding agreement within 10% of theory. The dependence of the measured flux noise on inductor geometry is consistent with a noise source correlation length between 6 and 400 um.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Implementing the Quantum von Neumann Architecture with Superconducting Circuits

The von Neumann architecture for a classical computer comprises a central processing unit and a memory holding instructions and data. We demonstrate a quantum central processing unit that exchanges data with a quantum random-access memory integrated on a chip, with instructions stored on a classical computer. We test our quantum machine by executing codes that involve seven quantum elements: Two superconducting qubits coupled through a quantum bus, two quantum memories, and two zeroing registers. Two vital algorithms for quantum computing are demonstrated, the quantum Fourier transform, with 66% process fidelity, and the three-qubit Toffoli OR phase gate, with 98% phase fidelity. Our results, in combination especially with longer qubit coherence, illustrate a potentially viable approach to factoring numbers and implementing simple quantum error correction codes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Loss and decoherence due to stray infrared light in superconducting quantum circuits

We find that stray infrared light from the 4 K stage in a cryostat can cause significant loss in superconducting resonators and qubits. For devices shielded in only a metal box, we measured resonators with quality factors Q = 10^5 and qubits with energy relaxation times T_1=120 ns, consistent with a stray light-induced quasiparticle density of 170-230 \mu m^{-3}. By adding a second black shield at the sample temperature, we found about an order of magnitude improvement in performance and no sensitivity to the 4 K radiation. We also tested various shielding methods, implying a lower limit of Q = 10^8 due to stray light in the light-tight configuration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Energy decay and frequency shift of a superconducting qubit from non-equilibrium quasiparticles

Quasiparticles are an important decoherence mechanism in superconducting qubits, and can be described with a complex admittance that is a generalization of the Mattis-Bardeen theory. By injecting non-equilibrium quasiparticles with a tunnel junction, we verify qualitatively the expected change of the decay rate and frequency in a phase qubit. With their relative change in agreement to within 4% of prediction, the theory can be reliably used to infer quasiparticle density. We describe how settling of the decay rate may allow determination of whether qubit energy relaxation is limited by non-equilibrium quasiparticles.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Phase qubits fabricated with trilayer junctions

We have developed a novel Josephson junction geometry with minimal volume of lossy isolation dielectric, being suitable for higher quality trilayer junctions implemented in qubits. The junctions are based on in-situ deposited trilayers with thermal tunnel oxide, have micron-sized areas and a low subgap current. In qubit spectroscopy only a few avoided level crossings are observed, and the measured relaxation time of $T_1\approx400\;\rm{nsec}$ is in good agreement with the usual phase qubit decay time, indicating low loss due to the additional isolation dielectric.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Wirebond crosstalk and cavity modes in large chip mounts for superconducting qubits

We analyze the performance of a microwave chip mount that uses wirebonds to connect the chip and mount grounds. A simple impedance ladder model predicts that transmission crosstalk between two feedlines falls off exponentially with distance at low frequencies, but rises to near unity above a resonance frequency set by the chip to ground capacitance. Using SPICE simulations and experimental measurements of a scale model, the basic predictions of the ladder model were verified. In particular, by decreasing the capacitance between the chip and box grounds, the resonance frequency increased and transmission decreased. This model then influenced the design of a new mount that improved the isolation to -65 dB at 6 GHz, even though the chip dimensions were increased to 1 cm by 1 cm, 3 times as large as our previous devices. We measured a coplanar resonator in this mount as preparation for larger qubit chips, and were able to identify cavity, slotline, and resonator modes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Photon shell game in three-resonator circuit quantum electrodynamics

The generation and control of quantum states of light constitute fundamental tasks in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED). The superconducting realization of cavity QED, circuit QED, enables on-chip microwave photonics, where superconducting qubits control and measure individual photon states. A long-standing issue in cavity QED is the coherent transfer of photons between two or more resonators. Here, we use circuit QED to implement a three-resonator architecture on a single chip, where the resonators are interconnected by two superconducting phase qubits. We use this circuit to shuffle one- and two-photon Fock states between the three resonators, and demonstrate qubit-mediated vacuum Rabi swaps between two resonators. This illustrates the potential for using multi-resonator circuits as photon quantum registries and for creating multipartite entanglement between delocalized bosonic modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Deterministic entanglement of photons in two superconducting microwave resonators

Quantum entanglement, one of the defining features of quantum mechanics, has been demonstrated in a variety of nonlinear spin-like systems. Quantum entanglement in linear systems has proven significantly more challenging, as the intrinsic energy level degeneracy associated with linearity makes quantum control more difficult. Here we demonstrate the quantum entanglement of photon states in two independent linear microwave resonators, creating N-photon NOON states as a benchmark demonstration. We use a superconducting quantum circuit that includes Josephson qubits to control and measure the two resonators, and we completely characterize the entangled states with bipartite Wigner tomography. These results demonstrate a significant advance in the quantum control of linear resonators in superconducting circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Demonstration of a Tuneable Coupler for Superconducting Qubits Using Coherent, Time Domain, Two-Qubit Operations

A major challenge in the field of quantum computing is the construction of scalable qubit coupling architectures. Here, we demonstrate a novel tuneable coupling circuit that allows superconducting qubits to be coupled over long distances. We show that the inter-qubit coupling strength can be arbitrarily tuned over nanosecond timescales within a sequence that mimics actual use in an algorithm. The coupler has a measured on/off ratio of 1000. The design is self-contained and physically separate from the qubits, allowing the coupler to be used as a module to connect a variety of elements such as qubits, resonators, amplifiers, and readout circuitry over long distances. Such design flexibility is likely to be essential for a scalable quantum computer.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Quantum process tomography of two-qubit controlled-Z and controlled-NOT gates using superconducting phase qubits

We experimentally demonstrate quantum process tomography of controlled-Z and controlled-NOT gates using capacitively-coupled superconducting phase qubits. These gates are realized by using the $|2\rangle$ state of the phase qubit. We obtain a process fidelity of 0.70 for the controlled-phase and 0.56 for the controlled-NOT gate, with the loss of fidelity mostly due to single-qubit decoherence. The controlled-Z gate is also used to demonstrate a two-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm with a single function query.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Generation of Three-Qubit Entangled States using Superconducting Phase Qubits

Entanglement is one of the key resources required for quantum computation, so experimentally creating and measuring entangled states is of crucial importance in the various physical implementations of a quantum computer. In superconducting qubits, two-qubit entangled states have been demonstrated and used to show violations of Bell's Inequality and to implement simple quantum algorithms. Unlike the two-qubit case, however, where all maximally-entangled two-qubit states are equivalent up to local changes of basis, three qubits can be entangled in two fundamentally different ways, typified by the states $|\mathrm{GHZ}> = (|000> + |111>)/\sqrt{2}$ and $|\mathrm{W}> = (|001> + |010> + |100>)/\sqrt{3}$. Here we demonstrate the operation of three coupled superconducting phase qubits and use them to create and measure $|\mathrm{GHZ}>$ and $|\mathrm{W}>$ states. The states are fully characterized using quantum state tomography and are shown to satisfy entanglement witnesses, confirming that they are indeed examples of three-qubit entanglement and are not separable into mixtures of two-qubit entanglement.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Improving the Coherence Time of Superconducting Coplanar Resonators

The quality factor and energy decay time of superconducting resonators have been measured as a function of material, geometry, and magnetic field. Once the dissipation of trapped magnetic vortices is minimized, we identify surface two-level states (TLS) as an important decay mechanism. A wide gap between the center conductor and the ground plane, as well as use of the superconductor Re instead of Al, are shown to decrease loss. We also demonstrate that classical measurements of resonator quality factor at low excitation power are consistent with single-photon decay time measured using qubit-resonator swap experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗