Existing schemes for semiconductor spin qubit readout involve either spin-to-charge conversion or electric dipole coupling to a superconducting resonator. The former requires destructive readout while the latter suffers from enhanced qubit dephasing, limiting the potential performance of quantum measurement: an open challenge in semiconductor quantum computing. Here we propose a coupling to a superconducting resonator based on qubit energy curvature versus gate voltage, which enables quantum nondemolition (QND) readout while the qubit resides in its full sweet spot and with zero dipole coupling (offering resilience to charge noise). Readout strengths of tens to hundred megahertz (MHz) can be reached, at least ten times larger than in the previously proposed schemes. We show how this curvature interaction generates two strictly QND readout approaches: (i) via a ``dispersive-like'' (quantum capacitance) spin-dependent resonator energy shift, similar in implementation to circuit-QED dispersive readout, but avoiding the Purcell effect; and (ii) with the addition of qubit gate voltage modulation, a longitudinal readout which can be selectively switched on, for a chosen n-qubit subsystem. Neither scheme requires the qubit and resonator to be close in frequency.
Existing schemes for semiconductor spin qubit readout involve either spin-to-charge conversion or electric dipole coupling to a superconducting resonator. The former requires destructive readout while the latter suffers from enhanced qubit dephasing, limiting the potential performance of quantum measurement: an open challenge in semiconductor quantum computing. Here we propose a coupling to a superconducting resonator based on qubit energy curvature versus gate voltage, which enables quantum nondemolition (QND) readout while the qubit resides in its full sweet spot and with zero dipole coupling (offering resilience to charge noise). Readout strengths of tens to hundred megahertz (MHz) can be reached, at least ten times larger than in the previously proposed schemes. We show how this curvature interaction generates two strictly QND readout approaches: (i) via a ``dispersive-like'' (quantum capacitance) spin-dependent resonator energy shift, similar in implementation to circuit-QED dispersive readout, but avoiding the Purcell effect; and (ii) with the addition of qubit gate voltage modulation, a longitudinal readout which can be selectively switched on, for a chosen n-qubit subsystem. Neither scheme requires the qubit and resonator to be close in frequency.
We propose entangling operations based on the energy curvature couplings of encoded spin qubits to a superconducting cavity, exploring the nonlinear qubit response to a gate voltage variation. For a two-qubit (n-qubit) entangling gate we explore acquired geometric phases via a time-modulated longitudinal ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{z}$ coupling, offering gate times of tens of nanoseconds even when the qubits and the cavity are far detuned. No dipole moment is necessary: the qubit transverse ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{x}$ coupling to the resonator is zero at the full sweet spot of the encoded spin qubit of interest (a triple quantum dot three-electron exchange-only qubit or a double quantum dot singlet-triplet qubit). This approach allows always-on, exchange-only qubits, for example, to stay on their ``sweet spots'' during gate operations, minimizing the charge noise and eliminating an always-on static longitudinal qubit-qubit coupling. We calculate the main gate errors due to the (1) diffusion (Johnson) noise and (2) damping of the resonator, the (3) 1/f-charge noise qubit gate dephasing and 1/f noise on the longitudinal coupling, (4) qubit dephasing and AC-Stark frequency shifts via photon fluctuations in the resonator, and (5) spin-dependent resonator frequency shifts (via a ``dispersivelike'' static curvature coupling), most of them associated with the nonzero qubit energy curvature (quantum capacitance). Using spin-echo-like error suppression at optimal regimes, gate infidelities of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}--{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ can be achieved with experimentally existing parameters. The proposed schemes seem suitable for remote spin-to-spin entanglement of two spin qubits or a cluster of spin qubits: an important resource of quantum computing.
Strong coupling of semiconductor spin qubits to superconducting microwave resonators was recently demonstrated [X. Mi et al., Nature 555, 599 (2018); A. J. Landig et al., Nature 560, 179 (2018); N. Samkharadze et al., Science 359, 1123 (2018); T. Cubaynes et al., NPJ Quant. Inf. 5, 47 (2019)]. These breakthroughs pave the way for quantum information processing that combines the long coherence times of solid-state spin qubits with the long-distance connectivity, fast control, and fast high-fidelity quantum-non-demolition readout of existing superconducting qubit implementations. Here we theoretically analyze and optimize the dispersive readout of a single spin in a semiconductor double quantum dot (DQD) coupled to a microwave resonator via its electric dipole moment. The strong spin-photon coupling arises from the motion of the electron spin in a local magnetic field gradient. We calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the readout accounting for both Purcell spin relaxation and spin relaxation arising from intrinsic electric noise within the semiconductor. We express the maximum achievable SNR in terms of the cooperativity associated with these two dissipation processes. We find that while the cooperativity increases with the strength of the dipole coupling between the DQD and the resonator, it does not depend on the strength of the magnetic field gradient. We then optimize the SNR as a function of experimentally tunable DQD parameters. We identify wide regions of parameter space where the unwanted backaction of the resonator photons on the qubit is small. Moreover, we find that the coupling of the resonator to other DQD transitions can enhance the SNR by at least a factor of two, a ``straddling'' effect [J. Koch et al., Phys. Rev. A 76, 042319 (2007)] that occurs only at nonzero energy detuning of the DQD double-well potential. We estimate that with current technology, single-shot readout fidelities in the range 82--95% can be achieved within a few $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ of readout time without requiring the use of Purcell filters.
Dispersive readout, the current standard for measuring superconducting qubits, relies on relatively easy to engineer, static transverse coupling between a qubit and a detuned cavity mode. However, this method requires circuit design trade-offs between qubit-cavity coupling, cavity-feedline coupling, detuning, and the resultant decoherence introduced by the cavity mode. Additionally, the criteria for performing quantum nondemolition measurements, including reduced cavity photon numbers, further limits speed and fidelity. In this work, we introduce a circuit with pulse-tunable qubit-cavity and cavity-feedline couplings so that the entire qubit-measurement process can be fully optimized. Here, the core measurement process resembles a quantum gate operation between the qubit and the cavity, with the cavity acting like an ancilla, storing the qubit-state information. To fully explore time-dependent effects of the full qubit-cavity dynamics, we go beyond the rotating-wave, Jaynes-Cummings, or dispersive approximations, to develop a pulsed-measurement protocol. In addition, we propose a realistic circuit architecture that can provide a very fast, high-fidelity, QND measurement with near-unit efficiency.
Quantum technologies, including those based on superconducting quantum circuits, require high-fidelity high-speed detection of the quantum state of a qubit. Standard quantum nondemolition readout of a superconducting qubit is based on its dispersive coupling to a resonator, but this method suffers from the Purcell effects: Purcell decay, critical photon number, and qubit-dependent Kerr nonlinearity. The authors propose a method in which both speed and fidelity of flux-qubit readout can avoid all three Purcell limitations.
Longitudinal (curvature) couplings of an N-level qudit to a superconducting resonator at the adiabatic limit and beyond
Understanding how and to what magnitude solid-state qubits couple to metallic wires is crucial to the design of quantum systems such as quantum computers. Here, we investigate the coupling between a multi-level system, or qudit, and a superconducting (SC) resonator's electromagnetic field, focusing on the interaction involving both the transition and diagonal dipole moments of the qudit. Specifically, we explore the effective dynamical (time-dependent) longitudinal coupling that arises when a solid-state qudit is adiabatically modulated at small gate frequencies and amplitudes, in addition to a static dispersive interaction with the SC resonator. For the first time, we derive Hamiltonians describing the longitudinal multi-level interactions in a general dispersive regime, encompassing both dynamical longitudinal and dispersive interactions. These Hamiltonians smoothly transition between their adiabatic values, where the couplings of the n-th level are proportional to the level's energy curvature concerning a qudit gate voltage, and the substantially larger dispersive values, which occur due to a resonant form factor. We provide several examples illustrating the transition from adiabatic to dispersive coupling in different qubit systems, including the charge (1e DQD) qubit, the transmon, the double quantum dot singlet-triplet qubit, and the triple quantum dot exchange-only qubit. In some of these qubits, higher energy levels play a critical role, particularly when their qubit's dipole moment is minimal or zero. For an experimentally relevant scenario involving a spin-charge qubit with magnetic field gradient coupled capacitively to a SC resonator, we showcase the potential of these interactions. They enable close-to-quantum-limited quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements and remote geometric phase gates, demonstrating their practical utility in quantum information processing.
Spin qubits in gate-defined semiconductor quantum dots are a promising platform for realising a scalable quantum computer. This platform encodes quantum information into the intrinsic angular momentum (spin) of individual electrons or holes. In particular, hole spins in quantum dots enable the possibility of all-electrical spin control due to their intrinsic spin-orbit coupling. One important criterion of a quantum computer is the ability to reliably read out the state of the qubit. This is done by mapping spin information to the charge degree of freedom, combined with a method for charge detection. Charge detection can be facilitated by coupling a resonator directly to the quantum dot gate or to a charge sensor and measuring the resonator's phase or amplitude response. In this thesis, we describe a set of experiments relating to the implementation of hole spin qubit readout with superconducting resonators. First, we study gate-based charge sensing in a Si fin field-effect transistor (finFET) device using a superconducting NbN nanowire resonator. We find that the resonator amplifies capacitive crosstalk when electrical control pulses are applied to gate electrodes in this device. This occurs whenever a spectral component of qubit control pulses overlaps with the resonance frequency, which we show may occur for both baseband and radio-frequency (RF) drive signals. We quantify this crosstalk in a transport-based method, and attribute its source to the capacitance between the bondpads of neighbouring gate electrodes. In a second experiment, we use an RF charge sensor with the same nanowire technology to read out hole spin qubits formed in the quantum well of a Ge/SiGe heterostructure. A screening layer approach is used to facilitate RF matching due to large RF dissipation found in the heterostructure. We implement a double-latched readout scheme in this system to reduce errors arising from both spin and charge decay during readout. The spin-to-charge conversion process and its dependence on magnetic field orientation is studied. Spin and charge decay processes arising after spin-to-charge conversion are mitigated by choosing an optimal working point for the field orientation, field amplitude and readout pulse times. By doing so, we achieve an average single-shot state-preparation-and-measurement fidelity of 97%, primarily bounded by imperfect state preparation and limited signal-to-noise ratio. Finally, we study coplanar waveguide resonators fabricated from NbN. We investigate the feasibility of integrating this type of resonator onto the same chip as the Si finFET quantum dots. We then develop a novel resonator readout technique by the interference of two microwave sidebands. We demonstrate the insensitivity of this technique to common-mode phase and amplitude noise both theoretically and experimentally. This technique is then used to study resonator noise arising from two-level system defects. These results highlight both the practical constraints and the potential for achieving high readout fidelities using resonator-based hole spin qubit readout. This work establishes a blueprint for mitigating resonator-induced crosstalk and enabling high-fidelity readout in lossy materials by incorporating a screening layer.