Quantum technologies have matured in a way that real applications are considered to be viable. The new quality emerges from the use of explicit quantum phenomena in single objects as qubits for computation, or photons for sensing and communication. However, to make these features exploitable, suitable microelectronic components for controlling and readout of the quantum states have to be available. For this, superconductive solid-state electronic circuits are considered to be promising candidates. First demonstrations for suitability are known. In order to provide scaling towards large-scale integrated structures, appropriate design methods and capabilities have to be developed. We provide an assessment of the current state of design automation for such superconducting digital electronic structures and survey existing approaches and tools.
Quantum technologies have matured in a way that real applications are considered to be viable. The new quality emerges from the use of explicit quantum phenomena in single objects as qubits for computation, or photons for sensing and communication. However, to make these features exploitable, suitable microelectronic components for controlling and readout of the quantum states have to be available. For this, superconductive solid-state electronic circuits are considered to be promising candidates. First demonstrations for suitability are known. In order to provide scaling towards large-scale integrated structures, appropriate design methods and capabilities have to be developed. We provide an assessment of the current state of design automation for such superconducting digital electronic structures and survey existing approaches and tools.
The superconducting qubit quantum computer is one of the most promising quantum computing architectures for large-scale integration due to its maturity and close proximity to the well-established semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure. From an education perspective, it also bridges classical microwave electronics and quantum electrodynamics. In this paper, we will review the basics of quantum computers, superconductivity, and Josephson junctions. We then introduce important technologies and concepts related to DiVincenzo's criteria, which are the necessary conditions for the superconducting qubits to work as a useful quantum computer. Firstly, we will discuss various types of superconducting qubits formed with Josephson junctions, from which we will understand the trade-off across multiple design parameters, including their noise immunity. Secondly, we will discuss different schemes to achieve entanglement gate operations, which are a major bottleneck in achieving more efficient fault-tolerant quantum computing. Thirdly, we will review readout engineering, including the implementations of the Purcell filters and quantum-limited amplifiers. Finally, we will discuss the nature and review the studies of two-level system defects, which are currently the limiting factor of qubit coherence time. DiVincenzo's criteria are only the necessary conditions for a technology to be eligible for quantum computing. To have a useful quantum computer, large-scale integration is required. We will review proposals and developments for the large-scale integration of superconducting qubit devices. By comparing with the application of electronic design automation (EDA) in semiconductors, we will also review the use of EDA in superconducting qubit quantum computer design, which is necessary for its large-scale integration.
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).
Quantum electronic circuits where the logic information is processed and stored in single flux quanta promise efficient computation in a performance/power metric, and thus are of utmost interest as possible replacement or enhancement of CMOS. Several electronic device families leverage superconducting materials and transitions between resistive and superconducting states. Information is coded into bits with deterministic values - as opposed to qubits used in quantum computing. As an example, information can be coded into pulses. Logic gates can be modeled as finite-state machines, that emit logic outputs in response to inputs. The most natural realization of such circuits is through synchronous implementations, where a clock stimulus is transmitted to every logic gate and where logic depth is balanced at every input to achieve full synchrony. Novel superconducting realization families try to go beyond the limitations of synchronous logic with approaches reminiscent of asynchronous design style and leveraging information coding. Moreover, some superconducting families exploit adiabatic operation, in the search for minimizing energy consumption. Design automation for quantum electronic logic families is still in its infancy, but important results have been achieved in terms of automatic balancing and fanout management. The combination of these problems with logic restructuring poses new challenges, as the overall problem is more complex as compared to CMOS and algorithms and tools cannot be just adapted. This presentation will cover recent advancement in design automation for superconducting electronic circuits as well as address future developments in the field.
In the pursuit of quantum computing, solid-state quantum systems, particularly superconducting ones, have made remarkable advancements over the past two decades. However, achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing for next-generation applications necessitates the integration of several million qubits, which presents significant challenges in terms of interconnection complexity and latency that are currently unsolvable with state-of-the-art room-temperature control and readout electronics. Recently, cryogenic integrated circuits (ICs), including CMOS radio-frequency ICs and rapid-single-flux-quantum-logic ICs, have emerged as potential alternatives to room-temperature electronics. Unlike their room-temperature counterparts, these ICs are deployed within cryostats to enhance scalability by reducing the number and length of transmission lines. Additionally, operating at cryogenic temperatures can suppress electronic noise and improve qubit control fidelity. However, for CMOS ICs specifically, circuit design uncertainties arise due to a lack of reliable models for cryogenic field effect transistors as well as issues related to severe fickle noises and power dissipation at cryogenic temperatures. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research on both types of cryogenic control and readout ICs but primarily focuses on the more mature CMOS technology. The discussion encompasses principles underlying control and readout techniques employed in cryogenic CMOS ICs along with their architectural designs; characterization and modeling approaches for field effect transistors under cryogenic conditions; as well as fundamental concepts pertaining to rapid single flux quantum circuits.
Superconducting qubits represent a highly promising and scalable quantum hardware technology. The design of these qubits follows a typical microwave circuit design process, where the circuit encompasses multiple resonance frequencies associated with both the resonators and the qubits. Chip design involves the meticulous engineering of resonators and qubits to align the circuit’s various frequencies with predefined values. Additionally, adjusting the coupling between resonators and qubits is essential to meet specific quantum parameters. As the demand for scaling to thousands of qubits grows, it becomes imperative to incorporate systematic engineering and design automation. In this article, we will explore the present requirements for electronic design automation (EDA) that shall enable the design of future superconducting quantum computers.
Despite promising proof of concept demonstrations, currently available quantum hardware suffers from fundamental scalability limitations. The field is relatively new and it is imperative to consider emerging technologies in the space and evaluate their unique tradeoff spaces to determine how to best close the gap between current devices and target applications. Here, we explore three recent developments on this front. First, we consider extensions to currently available hardware, which allow the use of higher level states, beyond the usual binary, which when used temporarily can confer circuit-level advantage. Second, we consider the use of superconducting resonant cavities to reduce hardware requirements to implement quantum error correction protocols. Finally, we consider the use of neutral atoms, which offer unique strengths and weaknesses. It is valuable to evaluate new technology early and often to determine the best path toward scalability.