arXiv subjects

Shotaro Shirai

Publications and source records attributed to Shotaro Shirai.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Epitaxial NbN-junction-based self-shunted superconducting flux qubit with high anharmonicity

We report a demonstration of a self-shunted superconducting flux qubit (SSFQ) as an ultracompact, strongly anharmonic, and long-lifetime qubit by using the full epitaxially grown NbN/AlN/NbN Josephson junctions. The NbN-junction-based SSFQ achieved a high anharmonicity of 797 MHz as well as drastically reduced footprint of the qubit compared to capacitively shunted (C-shunt) flux qubits with a large shunt capacitor. The lifetime of the SSFQ reached 13 - 25 $μ$s, which is comparable to or relatively higher than that of NbN-based C-shunt flux qubits and Al-based flux qubits with more than 10 times smaller junctions. This indicates that the large epitaxial NbN-based junction can be adopted for SSFQ as well as merged-element transmon with the relatively large junctions. The results presented in this work will offer a new choice of the scalable qubits as well as the material platform toward the realization of large-scale superconducting quantum computers.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Systematic frequency-collision analysis of the cross-resonance gate outside the straddling regime

Frequency crowding remains a major obstacle to scaling fixed-frequency transmon processors. Among the widely used all-microwave two-qubit gates, the cross-resonance (CR) gate is particularly sensitive to qubit-frequency spread because the conventional straddling regime condition constrains assignable qubit frequencies tightly and makes the system susceptible to frequency collisions. Here, we propose and analyze the CR gate outside the straddling regime, which we refer to as the far-detuned regime, and evaluate frequency collisions using a numerical method that remains accurate under high-intensity, smoothly ramped microwave drives. Based on this analysis, we perform systematic parameter sweeps and provide collision-free conditions that define designable frequency regions in which qubit frequencies can be assigned consistently with surrounding qubit frequencies. Furthermore, we formulate frequency allocation as a linear programming optimization on a unit-cell lattice with periodic boundary conditions to obtain an optimal allocation. We demonstrate that far-detuned designs significantly reduce collisions compared with designs in the straddling regime. Monte Carlo yield analysis indicates that 10% collision-free yield for a 1024-qubit square lattice at a 0.1% two-qubit-gate error threshold requires $σ_{\mathrm{f}}/2π\le 6.8~\mathrm{MHz}$. Our findings suggest that this is feasible with an approximately twofold reduction in the state-of-the-art qubit-frequency spread.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Search for Dark Photon Dark Matter with a Mass around 36.1 μeV Using a Frequency-tunable Cavity Controlled through a Coupled Superconducting Qubit

We report the results of a search for dark photon dark matter using a cavity that employs a transmon qubit as a frequency tuner. The tuning mechanism utilizes the energy level shift arising from the mode mixing between the qubit and the cavity mode. This method is advantageous as it avoids the frictional heating and electromagnetic leakage associated with mechanical tuning. We searched for a dark matter signal in the mass range $36.132 - 36.179$ $μ$eV and found no significant evidence. As a result, we set the exclusion limit on the kinetic mixing parameter down to approximately $5 \times 10^{-13}$, surpassing the existing limit set by cosmology.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

High-fidelity all-microwave CZ gate with partial erasure-error detection via a transmon coupler

Entangling gates between neighboring physical qubits are essential for quantum error correction. Implementing them in an all-microwave manner simplifies signal routing and control apparatus of superconducting quantum processors. We propose and experimentally demonstrate an all-microwave controlled-Z (CZ) gate that achieves high fidelity while suppressing residual ZZ interactions. Our approach utilizes a fixed-frequency transmon coupler and multi-path coupling, thereby sufficiently reducing the net transverse interaction between data transmons to suppress residual ZZ interactions. The controlled phase arises from the dispersive frequency shift of the $|gf\rangle$$\unicode{x2013}$$|eg\rangle$ transition between the coupler and one of the data transmons conditioned on the state of the other data transmon. Driving the transitions at the midpoint of two dispersively shifted resonance frequencies induces state-dependent geometric phases to achieve the CZ gate. Crucially, with this scheme, we can maintain a small net transverse interaction between two data transmons while increasing the coupling between the data and coupler transmons to accelerate the CZ-gate speed. Additionally, we measure the coupler state after the gate to detect a subset of decoherence-induced failures that occur during the gate operation. These events constitute erasure errors with known locations, enabling erasure-aware quantum error-correcting codes to improve future logical qubit performance.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

High-$Q$ membrane resonators using ultra-high-stress crystalline TiN films

High-quality-factor ($Q$) mechanical resonators are essential components for precise sensing and control of mechanical motion at a quantum level. While amorphous materials such as SiN have been widely used in high-$Q$ mechanical resonators utilizing stress-induced dissipation dilution, crystalline materials have emerging potential to achieve higher quality factors by combining low intrinsic loss and high tensile stress. In this paper, we demonstrate high-Q membrane resonators using ultra-high-stress crystalline TiN. Our membrane resonator exhibits a tensile stress exceeding 2.3 GPa and a quality factor of $Q = 8.0 \times 10^6$ at 2.2 K. By estimating the dilution factor, we infer that our TiN resonator has a intrinsic quality factor comparable to that of SiN membrane resonators. With its ultra-high stress and crystalline properties, our TiN films can serve as a powerful tool for opto- and electromechanical systems, offering highly dissipation-diluted mechanical resonators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Enhancing Intrinsic Quality Factors Approaching 10 Million in Superconducting Planar Resonators via Spiral Geometry

This study investigates the use of spiral geometry in superconducting resonators to achieve high intrinsic quality factors, crucial for applications in quantum computation and quantum sensing. We fabricated Archimedean Spiral Resonators (ASRs) using domain-matched epitaxially grown titanium nitride (TiN) on silicon wafers, achieving intrinsic quality factors of $Q_\mathrm{i} = (9.6 \pm 1.5) \times 10^6$ at the single-photon level and $Q_\mathrm{i} = (9.91 \pm 0.39) \times 10^7$ at high power, significantly outperforming traditional coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonators. We conducted a comprehensive numerical analysis using COMSOL to calculate surface participation ratios (PRs) at critical interfaces: metal-air, metal-substrate, and substrate-air. Our findings reveal that ASRs have lower PRs than CPWs, explaining their superior quality factors and reduced coupling to two-level systems (TLSs).

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Superconducting surface trap chips for microwave-driven trapped ions

Microwave-driven trapped ion logic gates offer a promising avenue for advancing beyond laser-based logic operations. In future microwave-based operations, however, the joule heat produced by large microwave currents flowing through narrow microwave electrodes would potentially hinder improvements in gate speed and fidelity. Moreover, scalability, particularly in cryogenic trapped ion systems, is impeded by the excessive joule heat. To address these challenges, we present a novel approach: superconducting surface trap chips that integrate high-$Q$ microwave resonators with large current capacities. Utilizing sub-ampere microwave currents in superconducting Nb resonators, we generate substantial magnetic field gradients with significantly reduced losses compared to conventional metal chips. By harnessing the high $Q$ factors of superconducting resonators, we propose a power-efficient two-qubit gate scheme capable of achieving a sub-milliwatt external microwave input power at a gate Rabi frequency of 1 kHz.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

All-microwave manipulation of superconducting qubits with a fixed-frequency transmon coupler

All-microwave control of fixed-frequency superconducting quantum computing circuits is advantageous for minimizing the noise channels and wiring costs. Here we introduce a swap interaction between two data transmons assisted by the third-order nonlinearity of a coupler transmon under a microwave drive. We model the interaction analytically and numerically and use it to implement an all-microwave controlled-Z gate. The gate based on the coupler-assisted swap transition maintains high drive efficiency and small residual interaction over a wide range of detuning between the data transmons.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Generating time-domain linear cluster state by recycling superconducting qubits

Cluster states, a type of highly entangled state, are essential resources for quantum information processing. Here we demonstrated the generation of a time-domain linear cluster state (t-LCS) using a superconducting quantum circuit consisting of only two transmon qubits. By recycling the physical qubits, the t-LCS equivalent up to four physical qubits was validated by quantum state tomography with fidelity of 59%. We further confirmed the true generation of t-LCS by examining the expectation value of an entanglement witness. Our demonstrated protocol of t-LCS generation allows efficient use of physical qubits which could lead to resource-efficient execution of quantum circuits on large scale.

quant-ph↗