Superconducting quantum bits (qubits) and circuits are the leading candidate for the implementation of solid-state quantum computation. They have also been widely used in a variety of studies of quantum physics, atomic physics, quantum optics, and quantum simulation. In this article, we will present an overview of the basic principles of the superconducting qubits, including the phase, flux, charge, and transmon (Xmon) qubits, and the progress achieved so far concerning the improvements of the device design and quantum coherence property. Experimental studies in various research fields using the superconducting qubits and circuits will be briefly reviewed.
Superconducting quantum bits (qubits) and circuits are the leading candidate for the implementation of solid-state quantum computation. They have also been widely used in a variety of studies of quantum physics, atomic physics, quantum optics, and quantum simulation. In this article, we will present an overview of the basic principles of the superconducting qubits, including the phase, flux, charge, and transmon (Xmon) qubits, and the progress achieved so far concerning the improvements of the device design and quantum coherence property. Experimental studies in various research fields using the superconducting qubits and circuits will be briefly reviewed.
In the last two decades, a spectacular development in the superconducting qubits has been accomplished experimentally as well as theoretically. The main reason for that is the realization that superconducting qubits can play a crucial role in the emergent field of quantum information processing and quantum computing. The interaction of superconducting qubits with the quantized electromagnetic field leads to make the circuit quantum electrodynamics, inspired by cavity quantum electrodynamics. The field of superconducting qubits and circuit QED is fast growing and branching to diverse applications in multidisciplinary fields. This makes it harder for first-time readers to follow-up. Therefore, this article is targeting to introduce in an intuitive way the topic of superconducting qubit and circuit QED by giving all the mathematical background, Lagrangian formalism for electric circuits, interaction Hamiltonian, and contextual physical interpretation essential to anew scientists and engineers planning to be specialized in this field as well as portraying a wide vantage for higher studies through the suggested recommendation resulted from the simulated examples and written code based on Python packages and Qiskit software. In this article, the superconducting qubits, transmon and fluxonium, are reviewed after introducing the abstract definition of a quantum bit. Moreover, light-matter interaction in fluxonium qubit and quantization of transmission line resonator are discussed briefly. Some of the simulated systems such as the energy levels of fluxonium as a function of offset flux are presented. Finally, applications of superconducting qubits in quantum computing and other fields such as quantum transistors, quantum machines and metamaterials are discussed. Index Terms Superconducting qubits, circuit QED, quantum logic gate, fluxonium, transmon.
Superconducting circuits based on Josephson junctions are regarded as one of the most promising technologies for the implementation of scalable quantum computers. This review presents the basic principles of superconducting qubits and shows the progress of quantum computing and quantum simulation based on superconducting qubits in recent years. The experimental realization of gate operations, readout, error correction codes, as well as some quantum algorithms are summarized, followed by an introduction of quantum simulation. And then some important applications in fields including condensed matter physics, quantum annealing, and quantum chemistry are discussed.
Thus far, we have examined quantum computing based on electron states in atoms, ions and semiconductor structures. In this chapter, we will examine quantum states in superconductors and their application as qubits. This chapter is particularly extensive due to the large variety of possible superconducting quantum circuits. We introduce superconductivity and examine the three main types of superconducting qubit: the flux qubit, the charge qubit and the phase qubit. We will also examine the transmon qubit and circuit quantum electrodynamics.
Thus far, we have examined quantum computing based on single particle states in atoms, ions and semiconductor structures. In this chapter, we will examine quantum states in superconductors and their application as qubits. This chapter is particularly extensive due to the large variety of possible superconducting quantum circuits. We introduce superconductivity and examine the three main types of superconducting qubit: the flux qubit, the charge qubit and the phase qubit. We will also examine the transmon qubit and circuit quantum electrodynamics.
In the past years, superconducting quantum computation has received much attention and significant progress of the device design and fabrication has been made, which leads qubit coherence times to be improved greatly. Recently, we have successfully designed, fabricated, and tested the superconducting qubits based on the negative-inductance superconducting quantum interference devices (nSQUIDs), which are expected to have the advantages for the fast quantum information transfer and macroscopic quantum phenomenon study with a two-dimensional potential landscape. Their quantum coherence and basic physical properties have been demonstrated and systematically investigated. On the other hand, a new type of superconducting qubit, called transmon and Xmon qubit, has been developed in the meantime by the international community, whose coherence time has been gradually increased to the present scale of tens of microseconds. These devices are demonstrated to have many advantages in the sample design and fabrication, and multi-qubit coupling and manipulation. We have also studied this type of superconducting qubit. In collaboration with Zhejiang University and the University of Science and Technology of China, we have successfully fabricated various types of the coupled Xmon devices having the qubit numbers ranging from 4 to 10. Quantum entanglement, quantum algorithm of solving coupled linear equations, and quantum simulation of the many-body localization problem in solid-state physics have been demonstrated by using these devices. Also, we have made significant achievements in the studies of the macroscopic quantum phenomena, quantum dissipation, quantum microwave lasing, and some other quantum optics problems. In particular, Autler-Townes splitting under strong microwave drive, electromagnetically induced transparency, stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, microwave mixing, correlated emission lasing, and microwave frequency up-and-down conversion have been successfully studied, both experimentally and theoretically.
Recent demonstrations of macroscopic quantum coherence in Josephson junction based electronic circuits have opened an entirely new dimension for research and applications in the established field of Josephson electronics. In this article we discuss basic Josephson circuits for qubit applications, methods of quantum description of these circuits, and circuit solutions for qubit couplings. Principles of manipulation and readout of superconducting qubits are reviewed and illustrated with recent experiments using various qubit types.