Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Scientific Reports

π phase shifter based on NbN-based ferromagnetic Josephson junction on a silicon substrate

Taro Yamashita, Sunmi Kim, Haruki Kato, Wei Qiu, Kouichi Semba, Akira Fujimaki, Hirotaka Terai

Published Aug 13, 2020• 31 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In the field of superconducting electronics, a π phase shifter based on a ferromagnetic Josephson junction is expected to provide various advantages to classical and quantum superconducting devices. Here we report niobium nitride (NbN)-based ferromagnetic π junctions on a silicon (Si) substrate with a titanium nitride (TiN) buffer layer, which have applications to flux-bias-free flux quantum bits (qubits) and classical digital logic elements. We fabricated and characterized NbN/aluminum nitride (AlN)/NbN Josephson junctions, NbN/copper nickel (CuNi)/NbN ferromagnetic Josephson junctions, and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) consisting of these junctions on the Si substrate. The fabricated NbN/AlN/NbN junctions showed a high junction quality suitable for qubit applications. Furthermore, the magnetic field dependence of the SQUID's critical current indicated that the NbN/CuNi/NbN junction worked as a π phase shifter on the Si substrate.

DOI
10.1038/s41598-020-70766-9

Related papers

NbN-based half-flux-quantum element for integration with superconducting qubits

Naoki Takeuchi, Mikiya Naruse, Shigeyuki Miyajima +4 more

Half-flux-quantum (HFQ) logic is a superconductor logic family comprising conventional Josephson junctions (0-JJs) and π Josephson junctions (π-JJs). The energy scale of HFQ logic can be flexibly reduced by phase shifts owing to π-JJs; thus, HFQ circuits are a promising building block for qubit interface circuits. In this study, we demonstrate an NbN-based HFQ circuit element compatible with NbN-based superconducting qubits for all-NbN monolithic integration of qubits and HFQ circuits. The use of NbN is beneficial for both qubits and HFQ circuits owing to its high-quality junctions and high kinetic inductance. First, we developed a prototype of an NbN-based 0-JJ/π-JJ hybrid fabrication process for designing HFQ circuits. We evaluated 0-JJs and π-JJs fabricated through the hybrid process, which demonstrated that the 0-JJs had a small deviation with regard to critical current density and the π-JJs had a sufficiently high critical current density to work as π phase shifters. Furthermore, we fabricated an HFQ superconducting quantum interference device, which is one of the most fundamental elements in HFQ circuits, and observed clear HFQ-period modulation in the magnetic flux dependence of the maximum current at 4.2 K.

Applied Physics Letters•Apr 8, 2024•3 citations

NbN-Based Ferromagnetic 0 and π Josephson Junctions

Taro Yamashita, Akira Kawakami, Hirotaka Terai

In superconducting spintronics, ferromagnetic \pi Josephson junctions are attractive for qubits, cryogenic memory, and phase shifters in logic circuits, offering reduced cell size and superior coherence and scalability. This study demonstrates such junctions based on niobium nitride, which can be grown epitaxially on MgO and is compatible with existing hardware. Its results provide physical insight into superconducting spintronics, as well as an interesting component for applications in quantum information processing.

Physical Review Applied•Nov 14, 2017•44 citations

Superconducting quantum circuit technology based on nitride superconductors

Hirotaka Terai, Sunmi Kim, Duong Pham +12 more

Abstract Superconducting qubits are a promising quantum computing platform, but significant challenges remain, such as achieving sufficiently long and stable coherence times and precise control of circuit parameters. Further improvements in material processing are essential to overcome these challenges. This paper introduces our research on superconducting quantum circuit technology based on nitride superconductors, where the core technologies are epitaxial growth of titanium nitride (TiN) on silicon (Si) substrates and epitaxial Josephson junctions using niobium nitride (NbN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and magnesium oxide (MgO). We have established a fabrication process of NbN/AlN/NbN epitaxial junctions on Si (100) substrates using a TiN film as a buffer layer and are working on applying this process to superconducting qubits. We describe recent results on the effect of junction annealing and discuss the advantages and potential of epitaxial Josephson junctions for realizing large-scale superconducting quantum circuits.

Applied Physics Express•May 26, 2026•0 citations

Fabrication and measurements of hybrid Nb/Al Josephson junctions and flux qubits withπ-shifters

A V Shcherbakova, Kirill G. Fedorov, K V Shulga +8 more

We describe fabrication and testing of composite flux qubits combining Nb- and Al-based superconducting circuit technology. This hybrid approach to making qubits allows for employing π -phase shifters fabricated using well-established Nb-based technology of superconductor–ferromagnet–superconductor Josephson junctions. The important feature here is to obtain high interface transparency between Nb and Al layers without degrading sub-micron shadow mask. We achieve this by in situ Ar etching using e-beam gun. Shadow-evaporated Al/AlO x /Al Josephson junctions with Nb bias pads show the expected current–voltage characteristics with reproducible critical currents. Using this technique, we fabricated composite Nb/Al flux qubits with Nb/CuNi/Nb π -shifters and measured their magnetic field response. The observed offset between the field responses of the qubits with and without π -junction is attributed to the π phase shift. The reported approach can be used for implementing a variety of hybrid Nb/Al superconducting quantum circuits.

arXiv:1405.0373•Superconductor Science and Technology•Jan 13, 2015•40 citations

Superconducting flux qubit with ferromagnetic Josephson π-junction operating at zero magnetic field

Sunmi Kim, Leonid Victorovich Abdurakhimov, Duong Pham +6 more

Conventional superconducting flux qubits require the application of a precisely tuned magnetic field to set the operation point at half a flux quantum through the qubit loop, which complicates the on-chip integration of this type of device. It has been proposed that by inducing a π-phase shift in the superconducting order parameter using a precisely controlled nanoscale-thickness superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor Josephson junction, commonly referred to as π-junction, it is possible to realize a flux qubit operating at zero magnetic flux. Here, we report the realization of a zero-flux-biased flux qubit based on three NbN/AlN/NbN Josephson junctions and a NbN/PdNi/NbN ferromagnetic π-junction. The qubit lifetime is in the microsecond range, which we argue is limited by quasiparticle excitations in the metallic ferromagnet layer. Our results pave the way for developing quantum coherent devices, including qubits and sensors, that utilize the interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity. Conventional superconducting flux qubits require a finely tuned magnetic field to operate, hindering their on-chip integration. Here, ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with a π-phase shift in the superconducting order parameter allow the realization of a flux qubit operating at zero magnetic field.

arXiv:2401.14597•Communications Materials•Oct 11, 2024•20 citations

Fabrication and Characterization of Miniaturized NbN Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices With Nanobridge Junctions

Hao Wang, Lei Chen, Xiaoyu Liu +4 more

Reduction of the size of the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) ring structure improves its sensitivity to magnetic moments. Nanobridge junctions are advantageous for SQUID miniaturization. However, many planar SQUIDs with nanobridge junctions have shallow flux modulation depths because of their nonideal Josephson current-phase relationships. Here, we fabricated a three-dimensional niobium nitride (NbN) miniaturized SQUID in which the nanobridge junction structures are much thinner than the superconducting ring. We grew a thick superconducting NbN film on a silicon wafer and embedded an insulating slit in the middle of the film. By setting two thin nanobridge junctions across this insulating slit, we were able to manufacture NbN miniaturized SQUIDs that, in principle, can become nano-SQUIDs. The flux modulation depths of these devices reached 36% at 4.2 K. In addition, the fabricated devices show reversible current-voltage characteristics in the absence of any shunting resistance.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jan 18, 2017•10 citations
In the field of superconducting electronics, a π phase shifter based on a ferromagnetic Josephson junction is expected to provide various advantages to classical and quantum superconducting devices. Here we report niobium nitride (NbN)-based ferromagnetic π junctions on a silicon (Si) substrate with a titanium nitride (TiN) buffer layer, which have applications to flux-bias-free flux quantum bits (qubits) and classical digital logic elements. We fabricated and characterized NbN/aluminum nitride (AlN)/NbN Josephson junctions, NbN/copper nickel (CuNi)/NbN ferromagnetic Josephson junctions, and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) consisting of these junctions on the Si substrate. The fabricated NbN/AlN/NbN junctions showed a high junction quality suitable for qubit applications. Furthermore, the magnetic field dependence of the SQUID's critical current indicated that the NbN/CuNi/NbN junction worked as a π phase shifter on the Si substrate.
Half-flux-quantum (HFQ) logic is a superconductor logic family comprising conventional Josephson junctions (0-JJs) and π Josephson junctions (π-JJs). The energy scale of HFQ logic can be flexibly reduced by phase shifts owing to π-JJs; thus, HFQ circuits are a promising building block for qubit interface circuits. In this study, we demonstrate an NbN-based HFQ circuit element compatible with NbN-based superconducting qubits for all-NbN monolithic integration of qubits and HFQ circuits. The use of NbN is beneficial for both qubits and HFQ circuits owing to its high-quality junctions and high kinetic inductance. First, we developed a prototype of an NbN-based 0-JJ/π-JJ hybrid fabrication process for designing HFQ circuits. We evaluated 0-JJs and π-JJs fabricated through the hybrid process, which demonstrated that the 0-JJs had a small deviation with regard to critical current density and the π-JJs had a sufficiently high critical current density to work as π phase shifters. Furthermore, we fabricated an HFQ superconducting quantum interference device, which is one of the most fundamental elements in HFQ circuits, and observed clear HFQ-period modulation in the magnetic flux dependence of the maximum current at 4.2 K.
In superconducting spintronics, ferromagnetic \pi Josephson junctions are attractive for qubits, cryogenic memory, and phase shifters in logic circuits, offering reduced cell size and superior coherence and scalability. This study demonstrates such junctions based on niobium nitride, which can be grown epitaxially on MgO and is compatible with existing hardware. Its results provide physical insight into superconducting spintronics, as well as an interesting component for applications in quantum information processing.
Abstract Superconducting qubits are a promising quantum computing platform, but significant challenges remain, such as achieving sufficiently long and stable coherence times and precise control of circuit parameters. Further improvements in material processing are essential to overcome these challenges. This paper introduces our research on superconducting quantum circuit technology based on nitride superconductors, where the core technologies are epitaxial growth of titanium nitride (TiN) on silicon (Si) substrates and epitaxial Josephson junctions using niobium nitride (NbN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and magnesium oxide (MgO). We have established a fabrication process of NbN/AlN/NbN epitaxial junctions on Si (100) substrates using a TiN film as a buffer layer and are working on applying this process to superconducting qubits. We describe recent results on the effect of junction annealing and discuss the advantages and potential of epitaxial Josephson junctions for realizing large-scale superconducting quantum circuits.
We describe fabrication and testing of composite flux qubits combining Nb- and Al-based superconducting circuit technology. This hybrid approach to making qubits allows for employing π -phase shifters fabricated using well-established Nb-based technology of superconductor–ferromagnet–superconductor Josephson junctions. The important feature here is to obtain high interface transparency between Nb and Al layers without degrading sub-micron shadow mask. We achieve this by in situ Ar etching using e-beam gun. Shadow-evaporated Al/AlO x /Al Josephson junctions with Nb bias pads show the expected current–voltage characteristics with reproducible critical currents. Using this technique, we fabricated composite Nb/Al flux qubits with Nb/CuNi/Nb π -shifters and measured their magnetic field response. The observed offset between the field responses of the qubits with and without π -junction is attributed to the π phase shift. The reported approach can be used for implementing a variety of hybrid Nb/Al superconducting quantum circuits.
Conventional superconducting flux qubits require the application of a precisely tuned magnetic field to set the operation point at half a flux quantum through the qubit loop, which complicates the on-chip integration of this type of device. It has been proposed that by inducing a π-phase shift in the superconducting order parameter using a precisely controlled nanoscale-thickness superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor Josephson junction, commonly referred to as π-junction, it is possible to realize a flux qubit operating at zero magnetic flux. Here, we report the realization of a zero-flux-biased flux qubit based on three NbN/AlN/NbN Josephson junctions and a NbN/PdNi/NbN ferromagnetic π-junction. The qubit lifetime is in the microsecond range, which we argue is limited by quasiparticle excitations in the metallic ferromagnet layer. Our results pave the way for developing quantum coherent devices, including qubits and sensors, that utilize the interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity. Conventional superconducting flux qubits require a finely tuned magnetic field to operate, hindering their on-chip integration. Here, ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with a π-phase shift in the superconducting order parameter allow the realization of a flux qubit operating at zero magnetic field.
Reduction of the size of the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) ring structure improves its sensitivity to magnetic moments. Nanobridge junctions are advantageous for SQUID miniaturization. However, many planar SQUIDs with nanobridge junctions have shallow flux modulation depths because of their nonideal Josephson current-phase relationships. Here, we fabricated a three-dimensional niobium nitride (NbN) miniaturized SQUID in which the nanobridge junction structures are much thinner than the superconducting ring. We grew a thick superconducting NbN film on a silicon wafer and embedded an insulating slit in the middle of the film. By setting two thin nanobridge junctions across this insulating slit, we were able to manufacture NbN miniaturized SQUIDs that, in principle, can become nano-SQUIDs. The flux modulation depths of these devices reached 36% at 4.2 K. In addition, the fabricated devices show reversible current-voltage characteristics in the absence of any shunting resistance.