The dominant source of decoherence in contemporary frequency-tunable superconducting qubits is $1/f$ flux noise. To understand its origin and find ways to minimize its impact, we systematically study flux noise amplitudes in more than 50 flux qubits with varied superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) geometry parameters and compare our results to a microscopic model of magnetic spin defects located at the interfaces surrounding the SQUID loops. Our data are in agreement with an extension of the previously proposed model, based on numerical simulations of the current distribution in the investigated SQUIDs. Our results and detailed model provide a guide for minimizing the flux noise susceptibility in future circuits.The dominant source of decoherence in contemporary frequency-tunable superconducting qubits is $1/f$ flux noise. To understand its origin and find ways to minimize its impact, we systematically study flux noise amplitudes in more than 50 flux qubits with varied superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) geometry parameters and compare our results to a microscopic model of magnetic spin defects located at the interfaces surrounding the SQUID loops. Our data are in agreement with an extension of the previously proposed model, based on numerical simulations of the current distribution in the investigated SQUIDs. Our results and detailed model provide a guide for minimizing the flux noise susceptibility in future circuits.

arXiv:2002.09372Physical Review AppliedMay 29, 2020104 citations

1/f Flux Noise in SQUIDs and Josephson Junction Qubits

David Cardamone, Clare C. Yu

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 18, 20090 citations

Quiet Readout of Superconducting Flux States

John L. Clarke, John L. Clarke, Timothy L. Robertson +16 more

The INSQUID (INductive Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) can measure the flux state of a superconducting qubit rapidly, while allowing the quantum state of the qubit to evolve with low levels of back action. The INSQUID consists of a dc SQUID with unshunted junctions connected in parallel with a superconducting inductor; the qubit is placed inside the SQUID loop. The inductor is coupled to a readout dc SQUID with resistively-shunted junctions. By applying appropriate fluxes to the input SQUID and the inductor, the INSQUID can be turned "off", so that virtually no flux noise is coupled from the readout SQUID to the qubit. Different flux biases turn the INSQUID "on", enabling the readout SQUID to measure the flux state of the qubit. The INSQUID can also be used to turn on and off the coupling between two or more qubits.The INSQUID (INductive Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) can measure the flux state of a superconducting qubit rapidly, while allowing the quantum state of the qubit to evolve with low levels of back action. The INSQUID consists of a dc SQUID with unshunted junctions connected in parallel with a superconducting inductor; the qubit is placed inside the SQUID loop. The inductor is coupled to a readout dc SQUID with resistively-shunted junctions. By applying appropriate fluxes to the input SQUID and the inductor, the INSQUID can be turned "off", so that virtually no flux noise is coupled from the readout SQUID to the qubit. Different flux biases turn the INSQUID "on", enabling the readout SQUID to measure the flux state of the qubit. The INSQUID can also be used to turn on and off the coupling between two or more qubits.

Physica ScriptaJan 1, 200229 citations

Measurement of the Energy Relaxation Time in rf SQUID Flux Qubits

Wei Qiu

It is well known that that superconducting qubits based on Josephson junctions have the advantages of scalability and the qubit states are easy to prepare and control. In addition, demonstration of Rabi oscillations in various superconducting circuits shows that superconducting qubits are promising for scalable quantum information processing. However, despite flexibility of design and fabrication, easier to scale up, and fast gate speed, superconducting qubits usually have much shorter decoherence time than trapped ions, NMR etc. due to the relatively strong interactions between qubits and environment. Recent experiments show that low frequency flux noise is the dominant mechanism of decoherence in superconducting flux qubits. However, despite extensive effort the origin of flux noise is still not well understood. The goal of this work is to identify the source and characterize the property of flux noisein rf SQUID flux qubit through various spectroscopy and time-resolved measurements. Our result show that one can determine all circuit parameters needed for reconstructing qubit Hamiltonian with high accuracy via measurement of macroscopic resonant tunneling (MRT) and photon assisted tunneling (PAT) and that the amount of flux noise in rf SQUID qubits scales linearly with self inductance of the qubits. In addition, we have investigated the dynamics of a three-level flux qubit in incoherent regime. The result demonstrates that treating a multi-level physical qubit, such as the superconducting flux qubit, as an ideal two-level quantum system may be inadequate under certain circumstances.It is well known that that superconducting qubits based on Josephson junctions have the advantages of scalability and the qubit states are easy to prepare and control. In addition, demonstration of Rabi oscillations in various superconducting circuits shows that superconducting qubits are promising for scalable quantum information processing. However, despite flexibility of design and fabrication, easier to scale up, and fast gate speed, superconducting qubits usually have much shorter decoherence time than trapped ions, NMR etc. due to the relatively strong interactions between qubits and environment. Recent experiments show that low frequency flux noise is the dominant mechanism of decoherence in superconducting flux qubits. However, despite extensive effort the origin of flux noise is still not well understood. The goal of this work is to identify the source and characterize the property of flux noisein rf SQUID flux qubit through various spectroscopy and time-resolved measurements. Our result show that one can determine all circuit parameters needed for reconstructing qubit Hamiltonian with high accuracy via measurement of macroscopic resonant tunneling (MRT) and photon assisted tunneling (PAT) and that the amount of flux noise in rf SQUID qubits scales linearly with self inductance of the qubits. In addition, we have investigated the dynamics of a three-level flux qubit in incoherent regime. The result demonstrates that treating a multi-level physical qubit, such as the superconducting flux qubit, as an ideal two-level quantum system may be inadequate under certain circumstances.

Dec 17, 20070 citations

Measurement of low frequency flux noise in superconducting flux qubits

Wei Qiu, Bo Mao, Yang Yu +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 11, 20080 citations

The dominant source of decoherence in contemporary frequency-tunable superconducting qubits is

1/f

flux noise. To understand its origin and find ways to minimize its impact, we systematically study flux noise amplitudes in more than 50 flux qubits with varied superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) geometry parameters and compare our results to a microscopic model of magnetic spin defects located at the interfaces surrounding the SQUID loops. Our data are in agreement with an extension of the previously proposed model, based on numerical simulations of the current distribution in the investigated SQUIDs. Our results and detailed model provide a guide for minimizing the flux noise susceptibility in future circuits.