Fabrication of sub-μm Nb/Al-AlO
x/Nb Josephson Junctions with Electron Beam Lithography for Qubit Applications
Low-frequency two level systems and
1/f noise in Al/AlO
x/Al Josephson junctions for superconducting qubits: achieving a noiseless junction
We have fabricated and characterized asymmetric gap-engineered junctions and transmon devices. To create Josephson junctions with asymmetric gaps, Ti was used to proximitize and lower the superconducting gap of the Al counter-electrode. DC IV measurements of these small, proximitized Josephson junctions show a reduced gap and larger excess current for voltage biases below the superconducting gap when compared to standard Al/AlO
x/Al junctions. The energy relaxation time constant for an Al/AlO
x/Al/Ti 3D transmon was
T1=1 μs, over two orders of magnitude shorter than the measured
T1=134 μs of a standard Al/AlO
x/Al 3D transmon. Intentionally adding disorder between the Al and Ti layers reduces the proximity effect and subgap current while increasing the relaxation time to
T1=32 μs.