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Superconductor Science and Technology

An integrated system of SQUIDs for the study of macroscopic quantum coherence

C. Cosmelli, Maria Gabriella Castellano, Roberto Leoni, G. Torrioli, P. Carelli, F. Chiarello

Published Nov 21, 2001• 7 citations

Abstract

The observation and study of macroscopic quantum coherence (MQC), i.e. the coherent superposition and evolution of macroscopically distinct quantum states, is of great importance for both our understanding of nature and for quantum engineering, for example in quantum computing. Recently a first indication of MQC in a system of SQUIDs has been indirectly observed by means of spectroscopic techniques. Applications like quantum computing, however, require the manipulation and the observation of the time evolution of the MQC states. We have realized a system of SQUIDs for the study of MQC. Our system, based on trilayer Nb/AlOx/Nb technology, consists of a double rf-SQUID, source of the MQC state, inductively coupled to a non-hysteretic dc-SQUID magnetometer and to a hysteretic dc-SQUID threshold detector, used for the read-out of the magnetic flux state. The magnetometer is used to test and monitor the rf-SQUID behaviour, while the hysteretic dc-SQUID is used to perform fast measurements with a reduced back action on the rf-SQUID. We present measurements performed at 4.2 K and at 20 mK to characterize the single devices and their overall behaviour, and a scheme for the use of a set of SQUIDs as a qubit system.

DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/14/12/310

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In recent years, the quantum behaviour of Josephson devices has been the object of thorough experimental investigation, mainly with the objective of studying quantum mechanics in macroscopic objects. At present, the same quantum properties are being exploited with the aim of the physical implementation of quantum bits and quantum registers. Here we present measurements on a system containing potential qubits, namely a rf SQUID and a hysteretic dc SQUID, magnetically coupled, under microwave excitation; the devices are realized on a single chip with trilayer Nb/AlO x /Nb technology. On this system we have performed a set of measurements to test the dc SQUID response to short pulses of microwaves ranging from 2 to 32 GHz. A first analysis of our results indicates the presence of population oscillations in the hysteretic dc SQUID. This result is very promising in view of using SQUIDs for more complex qubits systems.

We present different types of integrated planar SQUID devices in view of Macroscopic Quantum Coherence (MQC) experiments. These devices include an rf SQUID as a probe to test the MQC, coupled to a readout system based on a dc SQUID sensor. Both dc SQUID and flux transformer are in a gradiometric configuration to minimize the electromagnetic noise from environment. We report data on dc SQUID performances as well as preliminary results on the decay from the metastable flux state for rf SQUID-based devices above the crossover temeperature (classical limit).

We have realized a hysteretic dc SQUID to measure the flux states of a rf SQUID inductively coupled to the hysteretic dc SQUID. This type of measurement is required whenever is necessary to make a non invasive measure of the state of the rf SQUID. This is the case of measurements of macroscopic quantum coherence or measurements on q-bits systems. With the proposed set up the hysteretic dc SQUID can switch from the superconducting to the normal state depending on the total applied magnetic flux. On this system we measured at 4.2 K the change on the switching probability of the dc SQUID by varying the flux state of the rf SQUID. The experimental results agree very well with the theoretical predictions showing that this device can be used to perform non invasive measurements of the rf SQUID flux state.

We present the design of an on-chip time domain experiment to demonstrate macroscopic quantum coherence in an rf-SQUID, a superconducting loop interrupted by a Josephson junction. If suc- cessful the SQUID will serve as a for a superconducting quantum computer. The chip is currently in fabrication. odinger' s parable, a clear demonstration of rf-SQUID MQC would dramatically challenge our concepts of the quantum / classical boundary. The rf-SQUID MQC state was proposed as a candidate to serve as the for a possible superconducting quantum computer (2). Very recently, spectroscopic experiments showed the energy level structure expected for MQC phenomena in an rf-SQUID (3) and in the very similar persistent current qubit (4). It is our intention to conduct a time domain experiment in which the macroscopic quantum coherent oscillations will be observed directly as they evolve. The Hamiltonian of the rf-SQUID system, under the assumption of no dissipation, is

We believe that the best chance to observe macroscopic quantum coherence (MQC) in an rf-SQUID qubit is to use on-chip RSFQ digital circuits for preparing, evolving and reading out the qubit's quantum state. This approach allows experiments to be conducted on a very short time scale (sub-nanosecond) without the use of large bandwidth control lines that would couple environmental degrees of freedom to the qubit, thus contributing to its decoherence. In this paper we present our design of an RSFQ digital control circuit for demonstrating MQC in an rf-SQUID. We assess some of the key practical issues in the circuit design including the achievement of the necessary flux bias stability. We present an "active" isolation structure to be used to increase coherence times. The structure decouples the SQUID from external degrees of freedom, and then couples it to the output measurement circuitry when required, all under the active control of RSFQ circuits.