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

arXiv:cond-mat/0305461 · Science

Coherent Quantum Dynamics of a Superconducting Flux Qubit

I. Chiorescu, Yasunobu Nakamura, C. J. P. M. Harmans, Johan E. Mooij

Published Mar 20, 2003• 1,216 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We have observed coherent time evolution between two quantum states of a superconducting flux qubit comprising three Josephson junctions in a loop. The superposition of the two states carrying opposite macroscopic persistent currents is manipulated by resonant microwave pulses. Readout by means of switching-event measurement with an attached superconducting quantum interference device revealed quantum-state oscillations with high fidelity. Under strong microwave driving, it was possible to induce hundreds of coherent oscillations. Pulsed operations on this first sample yielded a relaxation time of 900 nanoseconds and a free-induction dephasing time of 20 nanoseconds. These results are promising for future solid-state quantum computing.

DOI
10.1126/science.1081045

Related papers

Phase coherent dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit with capacitive bias readout

Frank Deppe, M. Mariantoni, E. P. Menzel +7 more

We present a systematic study of the phase coherent dynamics of a superconducting three-Josephson-junction flux qubit. The qubit state is detected with the integrated-pulse method, which is a variant of the pulsed switching-dc-superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) method. In this scheme, the dc SQUID bias current pulse is applied via a capacitor instead of a resistor, giving rise to a narrow bandpass instead of a pure low-pass filter configuration of the electromagnetic environment. Measuring one and the same qubit with both setups allows a direct comparison. With the capacitive method about four times faster switching pulses and an increased visibility are achieved. Furthermore, the deliberate engineering of the electromagnetic environment, which minimizes the noise due to the bias circuit, is facilitated. Right at the degeneracy point, the qubit coherence is limited by energy relaxation. We find two main noise contributions. White noise limits the energy relaxation and contributes to the dephasing far from the degeneracy point. $1∕f$ noise is the dominant source of dephasing in the direct vicinity of the optimal point. The influence of $1∕f$ noise is also supported by nonrandom beatings in the Ramsey and spin echo decay traces. Numeric simulations of a coupled qubit-oscillator system indicate that these beatings are due to the resonant interaction of the qubit with at least one pointlike fluctuator, coupled especially strongly to the qubit.

arXiv:0710.4455•Physical Review B•Dec 4, 2007•38 citations

Spectroscopy and coherent manipulation of single and coupled flux qubits

Yulin Wu, Hui Deng, Keqiang Huang +7 more

Measurements of three-junction flux qubits, both single flux qubits and coupled flux qubits, using a coupled direct current superconducting quantum interference device (dc-SQUID) for readout are reported. The measurement procedure is described in detail. We performed spectroscopy measurements and coherent manipulations of the qubit states on a single flux qubit, demonstrating quantum energy levels and Rabi oscillations, with Rabi oscillation decay time T Rabi = 78 ns and energy relaxation time T 1 = 315 ns. We found that the value of T Rabi depends strongly on the mutual inductance between the qubit and the magnetic coil. We also performed spectroscopy measurements on inductively coupled flux qubits.

Chinese Physics B•Sep 1, 2013•3 citations

Coherent oscillations in a superconducting tunable flux qubit manipulated without microwaves

Stefano Poletto, F. Chiarello, Maria Gabriella Castellano +6 more

We experimentally demonstrate coherent oscillations of a tunable superconducting flux qubit by manipulating its energy potential with a nanosecond-long pulse of magnetic flux. The occupation probabilities of two persistent current states oscillate at a frequency ranging from 6 GHz to 21 GHz, tunable by changing the amplitude of the flux pulse. The demonstrated operation mode could allow quantum gates to be realized in less than 100 ps, which is much shorter than gate times attainable in other superconducting qubits. Another advantage of this type of qubit is its immunity to both thermal and magnetic field fluctuations.

arXiv:0809.1331•New Journal of Physics•Jan 7, 2009•52 citations

Coherence properties of superconducting flux qubits

Samuele Spilla

The research work discussed in this thesis deals with the study of superconducting Josephson qubits. Superconducting qubits are solid-state artificial atoms which are based on lithographically defined Josephson tunnel junctions properties. When sufficiently cooled, these superconducting devices exhibit quantized states of charge, flux or junction phase depending on their design parameters. This allows to observe coherent evolutions of their states. The results presented can be divided into two parts. In a first part we investigate operations of superconducting qubits based on the quantum coherence in superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). We explain experimental data which has been observed in a SQUID subjected to fast, large-amplitude modifications of its effective potential shape. The motivations for this work come from the fact that in the past few years there have been attempts to interpret the supposed quantum behavior of physical systems, such as Josephson devices, within a classical framework. Moreover, we analyze the possibility of generating GHZ states, namely maximally entangled states, in a quantum system made out of three Josephson qubits. In particular, we investigate the possible limitations of the GHZ state generation due to coupling to bosonic baths. In the second part of the thesis we address a particular cause of decoherence of flux qubits which has been disregarded until now: thermal gradients, which can arise due to accidental non equilibrium quasiparticle distributions. The reason for these detrimental effects is that heat currents flowing through Josephson tunnel junctions in response to a temperature gradient are periodic functions of the phase difference between the electrodes. The phase dependence of the heat current comes from Andreev reflection, namely an interplay between the quasiparticles which carry heat and the superconducting condensate which is sensitive to the superconducting phase difference. Generally speaking, the flux qubit states are characterized by different values of the phase difference through their Josephson junctions. Consequently, the phase-dependent thermal current through a device subject a temperature gradient is related to the phase-dependent qubit states. We study how the thermal currents change according to the state of the qubits hence yielding a measurement of the qubit state. This in turn leads to an impact of temperature gradient on the dynamics of the system. We show that flux qubits in the Delft qubit design can have limitations of the decoherence time to the order of microseconds as a result of this newly discovered source of decoherence. In contrast, the fluxonium qubit is found to be well protected due to its superinductance.

•Feb 16, 2015•0 citations

Deep-well ultrafast manipulation of a SQUID flux qubit

Maria Gabriella Castellano, F. Chiarello, P Carelli +3 more

Superconducting devices based on the Josephson effect are effectively used for the implementation of qubits and quantum gates. The manipulation of superconducting qubits is generally performed by using microwave pulses with frequencies from 5 to 15 GHz, obtaining a typical operating frequency from 100 MHz to 1 GHz. A manipulation based on simple pulses in the absence of microwaves is also possible. In our system, a magnetic flux pulse modifies the potential of a double SQUID qubit from a symmetric double well to a single deep-well condition. By using this scheme with a Nb/AlO x /Nb system, we obtained coherent oscillations with sub-nanosecond period (tunable from 50 to 200 ps), very fast with respect to other manipulating procedures, and with a coherence time up to 10 ns, of the order of that obtained with similar devices and technologies but using microwave manipulation. We introduce ultrafast manipulation, presenting experimental results, new issues related to this approach (such as the use of a compensation procedure for canceling the effect of 'slow' fluctuations) and open perspectives, such as the possible use of RSFQ logic for qubit control.

arXiv:0909.2499•New Journal of Physics•Apr 28, 2010•27 citations

Time-resolved qubit readout via nonlinear Josephson inductance

Georg M Reuther, David Zueco, Peter Hänggi A +1 more

We propose a generalization of dispersive qubit readout that provides the time evolution of a flux qubit observable.Our proposal relies on the nonlinear coupling of the qubit to a harmonic oscillator with high frequency, representing a dc superconducting quantum interference device.Information about the qubit dynamics is obtained by recording the oscillator response to resonant driving and subsequent lock-in detection.The measurement process is simulated for the example of coherent qubit oscillations.This corroborates the underlying measurement relation and also reveals that the measurement scheme possesses low backaction and high fidelity.

arXiv:1105.1105•New Journal of Physics•Sep 12, 2011•6 citations
We have observed coherent time evolution between two quantum states of a superconducting flux qubit comprising three Josephson junctions in a loop. The superposition of the two states carrying opposite macroscopic persistent currents is manipulated by resonant microwave pulses. Readout by means of switching-event measurement with an attached superconducting quantum interference device revealed quantum-state oscillations with high fidelity. Under strong microwave driving, it was possible to induce hundreds of coherent oscillations. Pulsed operations on this first sample yielded a relaxation time of 900 nanoseconds and a free-induction dephasing time of 20 nanoseconds. These results are promising for future solid-state quantum computing.
We present a systematic study of the phase coherent dynamics of a superconducting three-Josephson-junction flux qubit. The qubit state is detected with the integrated-pulse method, which is a variant of the pulsed switching-dc-superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) method. In this scheme, the dc SQUID bias current pulse is applied via a capacitor instead of a resistor, giving rise to a narrow bandpass instead of a pure low-pass filter configuration of the electromagnetic environment. Measuring one and the same qubit with both setups allows a direct comparison. With the capacitive method about four times faster switching pulses and an increased visibility are achieved. Furthermore, the deliberate engineering of the electromagnetic environment, which minimizes the noise due to the bias circuit, is facilitated. Right at the degeneracy point, the qubit coherence is limited by energy relaxation. We find two main noise contributions. White noise limits the energy relaxation and contributes to the dephasing far from the degeneracy point. 1∕f1∕f1∕f noise is the dominant source of dephasing in the direct vicinity of the optimal point. The influence of 1∕f1∕f1∕f noise is also supported by nonrandom beatings in the Ramsey and spin echo decay traces. Numeric simulations of a coupled qubit-oscillator system indicate that these beatings are due to the resonant interaction of the qubit with at least one pointlike fluctuator, coupled especially strongly to the qubit.
Measurements of three-junction flux qubits, both single flux qubits and coupled flux qubits, using a coupled direct current superconducting quantum interference device (dc-SQUID) for readout are reported. The measurement procedure is described in detail. We performed spectroscopy measurements and coherent manipulations of the qubit states on a single flux qubit, demonstrating quantum energy levels and Rabi oscillations, with Rabi oscillation decay time T Rabi = 78 ns and energy relaxation time T 1 = 315 ns. We found that the value of T Rabi depends strongly on the mutual inductance between the qubit and the magnetic coil. We also performed spectroscopy measurements on inductively coupled flux qubits.
We experimentally demonstrate coherent oscillations of a tunable superconducting flux qubit by manipulating its energy potential with a nanosecond-long pulse of magnetic flux. The occupation probabilities of two persistent current states oscillate at a frequency ranging from 6 GHz to 21 GHz, tunable by changing the amplitude of the flux pulse. The demonstrated operation mode could allow quantum gates to be realized in less than 100 ps, which is much shorter than gate times attainable in other superconducting qubits. Another advantage of this type of qubit is its immunity to both thermal and magnetic field fluctuations.
The research work discussed in this thesis deals with the study of superconducting Josephson qubits. Superconducting qubits are solid-state artificial atoms which are based on lithographically defined Josephson tunnel junctions properties. When sufficiently cooled, these superconducting devices exhibit quantized states of charge, flux or junction phase depending on their design parameters. This allows to observe coherent evolutions of their states. The results presented can be divided into two parts. In a first part we investigate operations of superconducting qubits based on the quantum coherence in superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). We explain experimental data which has been observed in a SQUID subjected to fast, large-amplitude modifications of its effective potential shape. The motivations for this work come from the fact that in the past few years there have been attempts to interpret the supposed quantum behavior of physical systems, such as Josephson devices, within a classical framework. Moreover, we analyze the possibility of generating GHZ states, namely maximally entangled states, in a quantum system made out of three Josephson qubits. In particular, we investigate the possible limitations of the GHZ state generation due to coupling to bosonic baths. In the second part of the thesis we address a particular cause of decoherence of flux qubits which has been disregarded until now: thermal gradients, which can arise due to accidental non equilibrium quasiparticle distributions. The reason for these detrimental effects is that heat currents flowing through Josephson tunnel junctions in response to a temperature gradient are periodic functions of the phase difference between the electrodes. The phase dependence of the heat current comes from Andreev reflection, namely an interplay between the quasiparticles which carry heat and the superconducting condensate which is sensitive to the superconducting phase difference. Generally speaking, the flux qubit states are characterized by different values of the phase difference through their Josephson junctions. Consequently, the phase-dependent thermal current through a device subject a temperature gradient is related to the phase-dependent qubit states. We study how the thermal currents change according to the state of the qubits hence yielding a measurement of the qubit state. This in turn leads to an impact of temperature gradient on the dynamics of the system. We show that flux qubits in the Delft qubit design can have limitations of the decoherence time to the order of microseconds as a result of this newly discovered source of decoherence. In contrast, the fluxonium qubit is found to be well protected due to its superinductance.
Superconducting devices based on the Josephson effect are effectively used for the implementation of qubits and quantum gates. The manipulation of superconducting qubits is generally performed by using microwave pulses with frequencies from 5 to 15 GHz, obtaining a typical operating frequency from 100 MHz to 1 GHz. A manipulation based on simple pulses in the absence of microwaves is also possible. In our system, a magnetic flux pulse modifies the potential of a double SQUID qubit from a symmetric double well to a single deep-well condition. By using this scheme with a Nb/AlO x /Nb system, we obtained coherent oscillations with sub-nanosecond period (tunable from 50 to 200 ps), very fast with respect to other manipulating procedures, and with a coherence time up to 10 ns, of the order of that obtained with similar devices and technologies but using microwave manipulation. We introduce ultrafast manipulation, presenting experimental results, new issues related to this approach (such as the use of a compensation procedure for canceling the effect of 'slow' fluctuations) and open perspectives, such as the possible use of RSFQ logic for qubit control.
We propose a generalization of dispersive qubit readout that provides the time evolution of a flux qubit observable.Our proposal relies on the nonlinear coupling of the qubit to a harmonic oscillator with high frequency, representing a dc superconducting quantum interference device.Information about the qubit dynamics is obtained by recording the oscillator response to resonant driving and subsequent lock-in detection.The measurement process is simulated for the example of coherent qubit oscillations.This corroborates the underlying measurement relation and also reveals that the measurement scheme possesses low backaction and high fidelity.