Interqubit coupling and qubit connectivity in a processor are crucial for achieving high-fidelity multiqubit gates and efficient implementation of quantum algorithms. Typical superconducting processors employ relatively weak transverse interqubit coupling which is activated via frequency tuning or microwave drives. Here, we propose a class of multimode superconducting circuits which realize multiple transmon qubits with all-to-all longitudinal coupling. These ``artificial molecules'' directly implement a multidimensional Hilbert space that can be easily manipulated due to the always-on longitudinal coupling. We describe the basic technique to analyze such circuits, compute the relevant properties, and discuss how to optimize them to create efficient small-scale quantum processors with universal programmability.
Interqubit coupling and qubit connectivity in a processor are crucial for achieving high-fidelity multiqubit gates and efficient implementation of quantum algorithms. Typical superconducting processors employ relatively weak transverse interqubit coupling which is activated via frequency tuning or microwave drives. Here, we propose a class of multimode superconducting circuits which realize multiple transmon qubits with all-to-all longitudinal coupling. These ``artificial molecules'' directly implement a multidimensional Hilbert space that can be easily manipulated due to the always-on longitudinal coupling. We describe the basic technique to analyze such circuits, compute the relevant properties, and discuss how to optimize them to create efficient small-scale quantum processors with universal programmability.
Superconducting circuits offer great flexibility in designing quantum hardware. The authors present a multimodal ``trimon'' circuit implementing three qubits, and exploit the strong all-to-all longitudinal coupling to demonstrate high-fidelity multiqubit gates. Their design is a marked departure from conventional ones that combine individual, decoupled qubits. Nonetheless, this scheme allows fairly straightforward scale-up using established multiqubit architectures. The trimon mimics natural molecules, as used in NMR techniques, and shows significant potential for applications in quantum information processing.
The existing scalable superconducting quantum processors have only nearest-neighbor coupling. This leads to a reduced circuit depth, requiring a large series of gates to perform an arbitrary unitary operation in such systems. Recently, multi-modal devices have been demonstrated as a promising candidate for small quantum processor units. Always on longitudinal coupling in such circuits leads to implementation of native high fidelity multi-qubit gates. We propose an architecture using such devices as building blocks for a highly connected larger quantum circuit. To demonstrate a quantum operation between such blocks, a standard transmon is coupled to the multi-modal circuit using a 3D bus cavity giving rise to small exchange interaction between the transmon and one of the modes. We study the cross-resonance interaction in such systems and characterize the entangling operation and the unitary imperfections and crosstalk as a function of device parameters. Finally, we tune up the cross-resonance drive to implement multi-qubit gates in this architecture.
Generating high-fidelity, tunable entanglement between qubits is crucial for realizing gate-based quantum computation. In superconducting circuits, tunable interactions are often implemented using flux-tunable qubits or coupling elements, adding control complexity and noise sources. Here, we realize a tunable ZZ interaction between two transmon qubits with fixed frequencies and fixed coupling, induced by driving both transmons off-resonantly. We show tunable coupling over one order of magnitude larger than the static coupling, and change the sign of the interaction, enabling cancellation of the idle coupling. Further, this interaction is amenable to large quantum processors: the drive frequency can be flexibly chosen to avoid spurious transitions, and because both transmons are driven, it is resilient to microwave crosstalk. We apply this interaction to implement a controlled phase (CZ) gate with a gate fidelity of 99.43(1)% as measured by cycle benchmarking, and we find the fidelity is limited by incoherent errors.
Qubit connectivity is an important property of a quantum processor, with an ideal processor having random access-the ability of arbitrary qubit pairs to interact directly. This a challenge with superconducting circuits, as state-of-the-art architectures rely on only nearest-neighbor coupling. Here, we implement a random access superconducting quantum information processor, demonstrating universal operations on a nine-qubit memory, with a Josephson junction transmon circuit serving as the central processor. The quantum memory uses the eigenmodes of a linear array of coupled superconducting resonators. We selectively stimulate vacuum Rabi oscillations between the transmon and individual eigenmodes through parametric flux modulation of the transmon frequency. Utilizing these oscillations, we perform a universal set of quantum gates on 38 arbitrary pairs of modes and prepare multimode entangled states, all using only two control lines. We thus achieve hardware-efficient random access multi-qubit control in an architecture compatible with long-lived microwave cavity-based quantum memories.
Generating high-fidelity, tunable entanglement between qubits is crucial for realizing gate-based quantum computation. In superconducting circuits, tunable interactions are often implemented using flux-tunable qubits or coupling elements, adding control complexity and noise sources. Here, we realize a tunable ZZ interaction between two transmon qubits with fixed frequencies and fixed coupling, induced by driving both transmons off resonantly. We show tunable coupling over 1 order of magnitude larger than the static coupling, and change the sign of the interaction, enabling cancellation of the idle coupling. Further, this interaction is amenable to large quantum processors: the drive frequency can be flexibly chosen to avoid spurious transitions, and because both transmons are driven, it is resilient to microwave cross talk. We apply this interaction to implement a controlled phase (CZ) gate with a gate fidelity of 99.43(1)% as measured by cycle benchmarking, and we find the fidelity is limited by incoherent errors.
Quantum processors with native multi-qubit gates may offer very efficient implementations of near-term quantum algorithms on noisy hardware. Here, we introduce the multiunimon, a superconducting multimode circuit that encodes multiple qubits and enables native multi-qubit gates in a device consisting of a single Josephson junction embedded in a coplanar waveguide structure. Closely related to the unimon qubit, it inherits properties such as high anharmonicity, full protection against low-frequency charge noise, and partial protection against flux noise. By designing such a three-qubit device with Josephson-to-inductive energy ratio above unity and using a leakage-aware encoding scheme for the computational states, we simulate all twelve different controlled-controlled-NOT gates with a mean fidelity of 99.5% with simple sine-squared pulses of comparable length to single-qubit gates. The performance is limited by incoherent errors dominated by dielectric loss. With improvements in noise protection, design, and pulse shaping, the simulations suggest that fidelities approaching 99.99% are within reach. Our results demonstrate the potential of the multiunimon as a highly connected multi-qubit unit for larger superconducting quantum processors.