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

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Design and Performance Analysis of Hexagonal Transmon Qubit in a Superconducting Circuit

Seong Hyeon Park, Jeseok Bang, Soobin An, Seungyong Hahn

Published Apr 1, 2021• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Superconducting quantum bits (qubits) are considered as promising candidates to serve as a platform for a quantum information processor. For the realization of practical quantum computing devices, scalable designs and long lifetimes of qubits are required. In this paper, we present simulation results of “hexagonal” transmon qubit in a superconducting coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator. We conducted finite-element method simulations considering dielectric losses including the two-level system (TLS) loss to evaluate the performance of the qubit in a practical sense. Then, key parameters of a qubit in superconducting circuits - including lifetime, coupling strength, and energy levels are estimated by the black-box quantization method or by solving circuit quantum-electrodynamics (cQED). Finally, the geometric features and key parameters of the qubit are suggested for typical quantum information processing applications.

DOI
10.1109/tasc.2021.3070469

Related papers

Superconducting resonators: a path towards advanced quantum circuits

Raffaella Ferraiuolo, Giuseppe Serpico, L. Parlato +3 more

Superconducting resonators are powerful tools widely used in circuit Quantum Electrodynamics [1]. High-quality factors, tunability, and several implemented layouts make them ideal circuital elements for various applications from quantum metrology [2], to quantum computation [3] and quantum information [4]. Here, we report on the simulation and design of superconducting Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) resonators whose resonance frequencies are in the range of 4–8 GHz. Typical properties of superconducting resonators employed in standard transmon qubits can be achieved by designing a λ/4 resonator made by Niobium (Nb) and modeling the capacitive coupling to provide a high-quality factor useful for its future employments in more advanced quantum circuits [5]. Nb gives the advantage of better stability of the superconducting properties of the material against the application of a magnetic field, compared those achievable by Aluminum (Al), thus guaranteeing an additional degree of freedom in the implementation of complex quantum architectures [5]–[7].

IEEE Workshop on Low Temperature Electronics (WOLTE)•Jun 6, 2022•2 citations

Characterizing superconducting qubits

Sofia Patomäki

In a quantum computer, the information carriers, which are bits in ordinary computers, are implemented as devices that exhibit coherent superpositions of physical states and entanglement. Such components, known as quantum bits or qubits, can be realized with various different types of two-state quantum systems. Quantum computers will be built for computational speed, with hoped for applications especially in cryptography and in other tasks where classical computers remain inefficient. Circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) is a quantum-computer architecture which employs superconducting electronic components and microwave photon fields as building blocks. Compared to cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED), where atoms are trapped in physical cavities, cQED is more attractive in that its qubits are tunable and conveniently integrable with the electronics already in use. This architecture has shown some of the most promising qubit designs, despite their coherence times reaching tens of microseconds, are still below the state of the art with spin qubits, which reach milliseconds. Coherence times are historically the most relevant parameters describing the fitness of a qubit, although these days not necessarily the limiting factor. This thesis presents a comprehensive set of theoretical and experimental methods for measuring the characteristic parameters of superconducting qubits. We especially study transmission-line-shunted plasma oscillation qubits, or transmons, and presents experimental results for a single sample. Transmon capacitively couples a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) with a coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator, often with added frequency tunability utilizing an external magnet. The number of superconducting charge carriers tunnelled through a junction in the SQUID are used as qubit degrees of freedom. Readout of the qubit state is carried out by measuring transmission through the CPW. A cryogenic setup is employed with measurement and driving pulses delivered from microwave sources. Steady-state spectroscopy is employed to determine the resonance frequencies of the qubit and the resonator, qubit-resonator coupling constants, and the energy parameters of the qubit. Pulse-modulated measurements are employed to determine the coherence times of the qubit. The related analysis- and simulation programs and scripts are collected togithub.com/patomaki.

Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja•Jan 1, 2017•0 citations

Effects of device geometry and material properties on dielectric losses in superconducting coplanar-waveguide resonators

Valtteri Lahtinen, Mikko Möttönen

Superconducting coplanar-waveguide (CPW) resonators are one of the key devices in circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED). Their performance can be limited by dielectric losses in the substrate and in the material interfaces. Reliable modeling is required to aid in the design of low-loss CPW structures for cQED. We analyze the geometric dependence of the dielectric losses in CPW structures using finite-element modeling of the participation ratios of the lossy regions. In a practical scenario, uncertainties in the the dielectric constants and loss tangents of these regions introduce uncertainties in the theoretically predicted participation ratios. We present a method for combining loss simulations with measurements of two-level-system-limited quality factors and resonance frequencies of CPW resonators. Namely, we solve an inverse problem to find model parameters producing the measured values. High quality factors are obtainable by properly designing the cross-sectional geometries of the CPW structures, but more accurate modeling and design methods for low-loss CPW resonators are called for major future improvements. Our nonlinear optimization methodology for solving the aforementioned inverse problem is a step in this direction.

arXiv:2002.12801•Journal of Physics Condensed Matter•Jun 2, 2020•17 citations

The Compact High-Coherence Superconducting Qubit: Realization via Meander-Shaped Capacitor

Qing Mu, Zhiguo Zha, Yonglong Shen +9 more

Scalable superconducting qubit architectures demand qubits with long coherence times—a critical prerequisite for developing practical quantum computers. To achieve a compact circuit footprint, we have designed a superconducting qubit featuring a meander-structured coplanar waveguide capacitor, termed the “Smon.” Numerical simulations of the electric field distribution demonstrate that the Smon exhibits a significantly lower energy participation ratio (EPR) than both Xmon qubits and conventional rectangular planar transmon qubits. For an in situ comparison between Smons and conventional rectangular planar transmons, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) hybrid qubit array test structure. The capacitor electrodes of the devices are fabricated using tantalum. Measurements of the Smon’s coherence properties yield an energy relaxation time ( T 1 ) ranging from 30 to 359 µs and a dephasing time ( T 2 ) between 18 and 20 µs. These results confirm that superconducting quantum circuits with enhanced integration density and long coherence times are experimentally feasible, thereby offering a viable pathway toward high-performance large-scale superconducting quantum computers.

Engineering•Jun 1, 2026•0 citations

Tutorial on Superconducting Quantum Circuits: From Basics to Applications

Denys Derlian Carvalho Brito, Fernando Valadares, André Jorge Carvalho Chaves

As superconducting circuits emerge as a leading platform for scalable quantum information processing, building comprehensive bridges from the foundational principles of macroscopic quantum phenomena to the architecture of modern quantum devices is increasingly essential for introducing new researchers to the field. This tutorial provides a self-contained, pedagogical introduction to superconducting quantum circuits at the undergraduate level. Beginning with an overview of superconductivity and the Josephson effect, the tutorial systematically develops the quantization of microwave circuits into the framework of circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED). The transmon qubit is then introduced as a state-of-the-art application, with a detailed derivation of its Hamiltonian and its interaction with control and readout circuitry. The theoretical formalism is consolidated through a numerical simulation of vacuum Rabi oscillations in a driven transmon-resonator system, a canonical experiment that demonstrates the coherent energy exchange characteristic of the strong coupling regime. This work serves as a foundational guide and first point of contact, equipping students and researchers with the conceptual and mathematical tools necessary to understand and engineer superconducting quantum hardware.

quant-pharXiv:2512.20913•Brazilian Journal of Physics•Dec 25, 2025•2 citations

Transmon Qubit Modeling and Characterization for Dark Matter Search

Roberto Moretti, Danilo Labranca, Pietro Campana +21 more

This study presents the design, simulation, and experimental characterization of a superconducting transmon qubit circuit prototype for potential applications in dark matter detection experiments. We describe a planar circuit design featuring two non-interacting transmon qubits, one with fixed frequency and the other flux tunable. Finite-element simulations were employed to extract key Hamiltonian parameters and optimize component geometries. The qubit was fabricated and then characterized at 20 mK, allowing for a comparison between simulated and measured qubit parameters. Good agreement was found for transition frequencies and anharmonicities (within 1% and 10% respectively) while coupling strengths exhibited larger discrepancies (30%). We discuss potential causes for measured coherence times falling below expectations (T1 ∼1-2 μs) and propose strategies for future design improvements. Notably, we demonstrate the application of a hybrid 3D-2D simulation approach for energy participation ratio evaluation, yielding a more accurate estimation of dielectric losses. This work represents an important first step in developing planar Quantum Non-Demolition (QND) single-photon counters for dark matter searches, particularly for axion and dark photon detection schemes.

arXiv:2409.05988•IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering•Nov 14, 2025•4 citations
Superconducting quantum bits (qubits) are considered as promising candidates to serve as a platform for a quantum information processor. For the realization of practical quantum computing devices, scalable designs and long lifetimes of qubits are required. In this paper, we present simulation results of “hexagonal” transmon qubit in a superconducting coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator. We conducted finite-element method simulations considering dielectric losses including the two-level system (TLS) loss to evaluate the performance of the qubit in a practical sense. Then, key parameters of a qubit in superconducting circuits - including lifetime, coupling strength, and energy levels are estimated by the black-box quantization method or by solving circuit quantum-electrodynamics (cQED). Finally, the geometric features and key parameters of the qubit are suggested for typical quantum information processing applications.
Superconducting resonators are powerful tools widely used in circuit Quantum Electrodynamics [1]. High-quality factors, tunability, and several implemented layouts make them ideal circuital elements for various applications from quantum metrology [2], to quantum computation [3] and quantum information [4]. Here, we report on the simulation and design of superconducting Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) resonators whose resonance frequencies are in the range of 4–8 GHz. Typical properties of superconducting resonators employed in standard transmon qubits can be achieved by designing a λ/4 resonator made by Niobium (Nb) and modeling the capacitive coupling to provide a high-quality factor useful for its future employments in more advanced quantum circuits [5]. Nb gives the advantage of better stability of the superconducting properties of the material against the application of a magnetic field, compared those achievable by Aluminum (Al), thus guaranteeing an additional degree of freedom in the implementation of complex quantum architectures [5]–[7].
In a quantum computer, the information carriers, which are bits in ordinary computers, are implemented as devices that exhibit coherent superpositions of physical states and entanglement. Such components, known as quantum bits or qubits, can be realized with various different types of two-state quantum systems. Quantum computers will be built for computational speed, with hoped for applications especially in cryptography and in other tasks where classical computers remain inefficient. Circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) is a quantum-computer architecture which employs superconducting electronic components and microwave photon fields as building blocks. Compared to cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED), where atoms are trapped in physical cavities, cQED is more attractive in that its qubits are tunable and conveniently integrable with the electronics already in use. This architecture has shown some of the most promising qubit designs, despite their coherence times reaching tens of microseconds, are still below the state of the art with spin qubits, which reach milliseconds. Coherence times are historically the most relevant parameters describing the fitness of a qubit, although these days not necessarily the limiting factor. This thesis presents a comprehensive set of theoretical and experimental methods for measuring the characteristic parameters of superconducting qubits. We especially study transmission-line-shunted plasma oscillation qubits, or transmons, and presents experimental results for a single sample. Transmon capacitively couples a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) with a coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator, often with added frequency tunability utilizing an external magnet. The number of superconducting charge carriers tunnelled through a junction in the SQUID are used as qubit degrees of freedom. Readout of the qubit state is carried out by measuring transmission through the CPW. A cryogenic setup is employed with measurement and driving pulses delivered from microwave sources. Steady-state spectroscopy is employed to determine the resonance frequencies of the qubit and the resonator, qubit-resonator coupling constants, and the energy parameters of the qubit. Pulse-modulated measurements are employed to determine the coherence times of the qubit. The related analysis- and simulation programs and scripts are collected togithub.com/patomaki.
Superconducting coplanar-waveguide (CPW) resonators are one of the key devices in circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED). Their performance can be limited by dielectric losses in the substrate and in the material interfaces. Reliable modeling is required to aid in the design of low-loss CPW structures for cQED. We analyze the geometric dependence of the dielectric losses in CPW structures using finite-element modeling of the participation ratios of the lossy regions. In a practical scenario, uncertainties in the the dielectric constants and loss tangents of these regions introduce uncertainties in the theoretically predicted participation ratios. We present a method for combining loss simulations with measurements of two-level-system-limited quality factors and resonance frequencies of CPW resonators. Namely, we solve an inverse problem to find model parameters producing the measured values. High quality factors are obtainable by properly designing the cross-sectional geometries of the CPW structures, but more accurate modeling and design methods for low-loss CPW resonators are called for major future improvements. Our nonlinear optimization methodology for solving the aforementioned inverse problem is a step in this direction.
Scalable superconducting qubit architectures demand qubits with long coherence times—a critical prerequisite for developing practical quantum computers. To achieve a compact circuit footprint, we have designed a superconducting qubit featuring a meander-structured coplanar waveguide capacitor, termed the “Smon.” Numerical simulations of the electric field distribution demonstrate that the Smon exhibits a significantly lower energy participation ratio (EPR) than both Xmon qubits and conventional rectangular planar transmon qubits. For an in situ comparison between Smons and conventional rectangular planar transmons, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) hybrid qubit array test structure. The capacitor electrodes of the devices are fabricated using tantalum. Measurements of the Smon’s coherence properties yield an energy relaxation time ( T 1 ) ranging from 30 to 359 µs and a dephasing time ( T 2 ) between 18 and 20 µs. These results confirm that superconducting quantum circuits with enhanced integration density and long coherence times are experimentally feasible, thereby offering a viable pathway toward high-performance large-scale superconducting quantum computers.
As superconducting circuits emerge as a leading platform for scalable quantum information processing, building comprehensive bridges from the foundational principles of macroscopic quantum phenomena to the architecture of modern quantum devices is increasingly essential for introducing new researchers to the field. This tutorial provides a self-contained, pedagogical introduction to superconducting quantum circuits at the undergraduate level. Beginning with an overview of superconductivity and the Josephson effect, the tutorial systematically develops the quantization of microwave circuits into the framework of circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED). The transmon qubit is then introduced as a state-of-the-art application, with a detailed derivation of its Hamiltonian and its interaction with control and readout circuitry. The theoretical formalism is consolidated through a numerical simulation of vacuum Rabi oscillations in a driven transmon-resonator system, a canonical experiment that demonstrates the coherent energy exchange characteristic of the strong coupling regime. This work serves as a foundational guide and first point of contact, equipping students and researchers with the conceptual and mathematical tools necessary to understand and engineer superconducting quantum hardware.
This study presents the design, simulation, and experimental characterization of a superconducting transmon qubit circuit prototype for potential applications in dark matter detection experiments. We describe a planar circuit design featuring two non-interacting transmon qubits, one with fixed frequency and the other flux tunable. Finite-element simulations were employed to extract key Hamiltonian parameters and optimize component geometries. The qubit was fabricated and then characterized at 20 mK, allowing for a comparison between simulated and measured qubit parameters. Good agreement was found for transition frequencies and anharmonicities (within 1% and 10% respectively) while coupling strengths exhibited larger discrepancies (30%). We discuss potential causes for measured coherence times falling below expectations (T1 ∼1-2 μs) and propose strategies for future design improvements. Notably, we demonstrate the application of a hybrid 3D-2D simulation approach for energy participation ratio evaluation, yielding a more accurate estimation of dielectric losses. This work represents an important first step in developing planar Quantum Non-Demolition (QND) single-photon counters for dark matter searches, particularly for axion and dark photon detection schemes.