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arXiv:1101.2712 · Physical Review B

Period-doubling bifurcation readout for a Josephson qubit

Alexander B Zorin, Yuriy Makhlin

Published Jun 22, 2011• 18 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose a threshold detector with an operating principle based on a parametric period-doubling bifurcation in an externally pumped nonlinear resonance circuit. The ac-driven resonance circuit includes a dc-current--biased Josephson junction ensuring parametric frequency conversion (period-doubling bifurcation) due to its quadratic nonlinearity. A sharp onset of oscillations at the half-frequency of the drive allows for the detection of small variations of an effective inductance and, therefore, the readout of the quantum state of a coupled Josephson qubit. The bifurcation characteristics of this circuit are compared with those of the conventional Josephson bifurcation amplifier, and its possible advantages are discussed.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.83.224506

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We propose a threshold detector with an operating principle based on a parametric period-doubling bifurcation in an externally pumped nonlinear resonance circuit. The ac-driven resonance circuit includes a dc-current--biased Josephson junction ensuring parametric frequency conversion (period-doubling bifurcation) due to its quadratic nonlinearity. A sharp onset of oscillations at the half-frequency of the drive allows for the detection of small variations of an effective inductance and, therefore, the readout of the quantum state of a coupled Josephson qubit. The bifurcation characteristics of this circuit are compared with those of the conventional Josephson bifurcation amplifier, and its possible advantages are discussed.
We analyze properties of bifurcation quantum detectors based on weakly nonlinear superconducting resonance circuits, in particular, with application to quantum readout. The developed quantitative description demonstrates strong influence of higher harmonics on their characteristics. While this effect is relevant for various circuits, including the conventional Josephson bifurcation amplifier and the parametrically driven circuit, we first focus on the period-doubling bifurcation under a force driving. This kind of bifurcation is due to nominally quadratic nonlinearity, which enables parametric down-conversion of the driving signal at nearly double resonance frequency to the basic mode. We analyze the effect of higher harmonics on the dynamics of the basic mode, inherent in a nonlinear circuit, which in our case is based on a Josephson junction with a sinusoidal current-phase relation as the origin of nonlinearity. We demonstrate that effects beyond the monochromatic approximation significantly modify the bare characteristics and evaluate their contribution. Due to high sensitivity of this circuit to small variations of parameters, it can serve as an efficient detector of the quantum state of superconducting qubits.
We analyze properties of bifurcation quantum detectors based on weakly nonlinear superconducting resonance circuits, in particular, with application to quantum readout. The developed quantitative description demonstrates strong influence of higher harmonics on their characteristics. While this effect is relevant for various circuits, including the conventional Josephson bifurcation amplifier and the parametrically driven circuit, we first focus on the period-doubling bifurcation under a force driving. This kind of bifurcation is due to nominally quadratic nonlinearity, which enables parametric down-conversion of the driving signal at nearly double resonance frequency to the basic mode. We analyze the effect of higher harmonics on the dynamics of the basic mode, inherent in a nonlinear circuit, which in our case is based on a Josephson junction with a sinusoidal current-phase relation as the origin of nonlinearity. We demonstrate that effects beyond the monochromatic approximation significantly modify the bare characteristics and evaluate their contribution. Due to high sensitivity of this circuit to small variations of parameters, it can serve as an efficient detector of the quantum state of superconducting qubits.
We review the theory, fabrication, and implementation of the Josephson bifurcation amplifier (JBA). At the core of the JBA is a nonlinear oscillator based on a reactively shunted Josephson junction. A weak input signal to the amplifier couples to the junction critical current I(0) and results in a dispersive shift in the resonator plasma frequency omega(p). This shift is enhanced by biasing the junction with a sufficiently strong microwave current I(rf) to access the nonlinear regime where omega(p) varies with I(rf). For a drive frequency omega(d) such that Omega=2Q(1-omega(d)/omega(p))>3, the oscillator enters the bistable regime where two nondissipative dynamical states O(L) and O(H), which differ in amplitude and phase, can exist. The sharp I(0) dependent transition from O(L) to O(H) forms the basis for a sensitive digital threshold amplifier. In the vicinity of the bistable regime (Omega<3), analog amplification of continuous signals is also possible. We present experimental data characterizing amplifier performance and discuss two specific applications--the readout of superconducting qubits (digital mode) and dispersive microwave magnetometry (analog mode).
We introduce a detection scheme for the state of a qubit that is based on resonant few-photon transitions in a driven nonlinear resonator. The latter is parametrically coupled to the qubit and is used as its detector. Close to the fundamental resonator frequency, the nonlinear resonator shows sharp resonant few-photon transitions. Depending on the qubit state, these few-photon resonances are shifted to different driving frequencies. We show that this detection scheme offers the advantage of small back action, a large discrimination power with an enhanced readout fidelity, and a sufficiently large measurement efficiency. A realization of this scheme in the form of a persistent current qubit inductively coupled to a driven SQUID detector in its nonlinear regime is discussed.
A nonlinear resonant circuit comprising a SQUID magnetometer and a shunting capacitor is studied as a readout scheme for a persistent-current qubit. The flux state of the qubit is detected as a change in the Josephson inductance of the SQUID magnetometer, which in turn mediates a shift in the resonant frequency of the readout circuit. The nonlinearity and resulting hysteresis in the resonant behavior are characterized as a function of the power of both the input drive and the associated resonance-peak response. Numerical simulations based on a nonlinear circuit model shows that the observed nonlinearity is dominated by the effect due to an ac flux rather than current bias through the Josephson inductor.
The Josephson bifurcation amplifier (JBA) readout process of a superconducting qubit is analyzed quantum mechanically. We examined the dynamics of the density operator of a detector (a driven nonlinear oscillator) and a qubit coupled system during the measurement process. We have observed the qubit-detector (JBA) entangled state and it is divided into two separable states at the moment the JBA transition begins. Moreover, we discuss the process from the viewpoint of time variations in information quantities, such as mutual information between the qubit and detector. We show that the measurement process corresponds to an information conversion from quantum to classical one.