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IEICE Transactions on Electronics

Superconducting Digital Electronics for Controlling Quantum Computing Systems

Nobuyuki Yoshikawa

Published Feb 28, 2019• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The recent rapid increase in the scale of superconducting quantum computing systems greatly increases the demand for qubit control by digital circuits operating at qubit temperatures. In this paper, superconducting digital circuits, such as single-flux quantum and adiabatic quantum flux parametron circuits are described, that are promising candidates for this purpose. After estimating their energy consumption and speed, a conceptual overview of the superconducting electronics for controlling a multiple-qubit system is provided, as well as some of its component circuits.

DOI
10.1587/transele.2018sdi0003

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FOREWORD

Kohjiro Satoshi

Special Section on Progress & Trend of Superconductor-based ComputersIt is our great pleasure to have a Special Section entitled "Progress & Trend of Superconductor-based Computers" in IEICE Transactions on Electronics.Superconducting devices based on Josephson junctions exhibit low power consumption and fast switching.Superconducting transmission lines are free of dispersion up to several hundred GHz.Unique logic circuits such as fast single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits and ultralow power adiabatic quantum-flux parametron (AQFP) logic circuits were proposed and have been improved.These circuits have been well developed based on not only their theoretical advantage but also reliable design and fabrication technology of superconducting integrated circuits.Recently, strong interest on quantum computing motivates the development of superconducting quantum-bits, control and readout circuits, and their integration.In this Special Section, seven invited papers and a contributed one describe these topics: two papers for SFQ, four for AQFP, and two for key devices for quantum circuits.Finally, I would like to appreciate activities of all authors, reviewers, and members in editorial committee for completing this special section.

IEICE Transactions on Electronics•May 31, 2022•0 citations
The recent rapid increase in the scale of superconducting quantum computing systems greatly increases the demand for qubit control by digital circuits operating at qubit temperatures. In this paper, superconducting digital circuits, such as single-flux quantum and adiabatic quantum flux parametron circuits are described, that are promising candidates for this purpose. After estimating their energy consumption and speed, a conceptual overview of the superconducting electronics for controlling a multiple-qubit system is provided, as well as some of its component circuits.
Quantum technologies are today regarded as one of the key technologies with huge implications to technological, economic and social developments in the next decades. Among the different platforms, superconducting implementations represent one of the most promising and are therefore pursued by several research institutions but also by numerous high-tech companies. Current research focusses e.g. on scaling towards a large number of qubits needed for practical implementations of this technology. Amongst the various realizations, adiabatic quantum flux parametron (AQFP) circuits have shown lowest power dissipation reaching Landauer limit. The operation of AQFP circuits down to mK temperature has been recently demonstrated. We will present a new concept for a digital control circuit based on the microwave pulse patters generated by single flux quantum circuits operating at mK temperatures. We discuss the circuit operation and the integration together with superconducting qubits to a compact and scalable approach for multi-Qubit control by digital pulse patterns.
Superconducting electronics provide us with cryogenic digital circuits that can rival established technologies in performance and energy consumption. Today, the lack of tools for the design of large-scale integrated superconducting circuits is a major obstacle to their deployment. Few research institutions and companies have contributed to making such tools available. This review focuses on methods, algorithms, and open-source design tools for logic synthesis of superconducting circuits in two major families: single-flux quantum (SFQ) circuits and adiabatic quantum flux parametron (AQFP).
An approach for scalable quantum computing infrastructure based on the use of low-power digital superconducting single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits is described. Rather than replicating the room-temperature microwave control and measurement infrastructure solutions dominating the current systems, we use the inherent to superconducting technology methods - the use of SFQ pulses directly at the base temperature. For qubit control, we irradiate qubits with the coherent SFQ pulse sequences computed using optical control theory. For qubit measurement, Josephson photon counter performs projective quantum measurement, the result of which is converted to digital SFQ output. These operations are aided by a high-speed digital SFQ coprocessor located at higher temperature stage (e.g., 3 K) to process the measurement results and load new control sequences to 20 mK SFQ quantum-classical interface circuits.
To build large-scale superconducting quantum computers, it is crucial to develop cryogenic qubit controllers that can manipulate many qubits inside a dilution refrigerator. In this paper, we report the recent progress and challenges of qubit controllers. Specifically, we review various qubit controllers composed of cryogenic complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (cryo-CMOS) logic and superconductor logic (such as single-flux-quantum logic and adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron logic). A detailed comparison of the qubit controllers reveals the advantages and disadvantages of each controller and indicates future challenges for both cryo-CMOS and superconductor logic-based controllers.
Readout and control of qubits are limiting factors in scaling quantum computers. An ideal solution is to integrate energy-efficient cryogenic circuits close to the qubits to perform control and pre-processing tasks. With orders of magnitude lower power consumption and hence lower noise, Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) and Adiabatic Quantum Flux Parametron (AQFP) superconductor logic families can reach ultimate performance at cryogenic temperatures. We have created a superconductor-based on-chip function generator to control qubits. The generated signal is modulated up to tens of GHz based on the external input waveform applied to the superconductor mixer stage. This circuit works at 4.2K. A radiofrequency (RF) matching circuit transmits the signal to the ~mK stage after digital amplification and noise reduction.
Special Section on Progress & Trend of Superconductor-based ComputersIt is our great pleasure to have a Special Section entitled "Progress & Trend of Superconductor-based Computers" in IEICE Transactions on Electronics.Superconducting devices based on Josephson junctions exhibit low power consumption and fast switching.Superconducting transmission lines are free of dispersion up to several hundred GHz.Unique logic circuits such as fast single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits and ultralow power adiabatic quantum-flux parametron (AQFP) logic circuits were proposed and have been improved.These circuits have been well developed based on not only their theoretical advantage but also reliable design and fabrication technology of superconducting integrated circuits.Recently, strong interest on quantum computing motivates the development of superconducting quantum-bits, control and readout circuits, and their integration.In this Special Section, seven invited papers and a contributed one describe these topics: two papers for SFQ, four for AQFP, and two for key devices for quantum circuits.Finally, I would like to appreciate activities of all authors, reviewers, and members in editorial committee for completing this special section.