Quantum computing can become scalable through error correction, but logical error rates only decrease with system size when physical errors are sufficiently uncorrelated. During computation, unused high energy levels of the qubits can become excited, creating leakage states that are long-lived and mobile. Particularly for superconducting transmon qubits, this leakage opens a path to errors that are correlated in space and time. Here, we report a reset protocol that returns a qubit to the ground state from all relevant higher level states. We test its performance with the bit-flip stabilizer code, a simplified version of the surface code for quantum error correction. We investigate the accumulation and dynamics of leakage during error correction. Using this protocol, we find lower rates of logical errors and an improved scaling and stability of error suppression with increasing qubit number. This demonstration provides a key step on the path towards scalable quantum computing.

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Removing leakage-induced correlated errors in superconducting quantum error correction.

Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) are key devices in superconducting quantum circuits, as they ultimately dictate quantum efficiency and speed of measurement, but they still suffer from low saturation power. This work shows that a JPA's saturation power can be increased by using a Josephson-junction array, rather than a single-junction amplifier. Modeling such an array as a nonlinear $L\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}C$ resonator reproduces the observed amplification and saturation effects very well. This use of arrays to fight low power saturation is easy to implement, and can be directly combined with impedance-engineered environments to enhance dynamic range even more.

Understanding the Saturation Power of Josephson Parametric Amplifiers Made from SQUID Arrays

Josephson parametric amplifiers have become a critical tool in superconducting device physics due to their high gain and quantum-limited noise. Traveling wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) promise similar noise performance while allowing for significant increases in both bandwidth and dynamic range. We present a TWPA device based on an LC-ladder transmission line of Josephson junctions and parallel plate capacitors using low-loss amorphous silicon dielectric. Crucially, we have inserted $\lambda/4$ resonators at regular intervals along the transmission line in order to maintain the phase matching condition between pump, signal, and idler and increase gain. We achieve an average gain of 12\,dB across a 4\,GHz span, along with an average saturation power of -92\,dBm with noise approaching the quantum limit.

Traveling wave parametric amplifier with Josephson junctions using minimal resonator phase matching

Higher-dimensional gates involving more than two qubits could play a major role in boosting the performance of quantum processors. While native two-qubit gates are ubiquitous on the superconducting-qubit platform, realizing high-fidelity three-qubit gates is challenging and typically requires multiple two-qubit gates, which leads to error accumulation. The authors utilize a multimodal ``trimon'' circuit to realize $n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}t\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}v\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e$ three-qubit gates that enable efficient implementation of important quantum algorithms, such as Grover's search. These results point to improved processor performance when the trimon is used as a building block for larger systems.

Programmable Superconducting Processor with Native Three-Qubit Gates

We report on the implementation and detailed modelling of a Josephson Parametric Amplifier (JPA) made from an array of eighty Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs), forming a non-linear quarter-wave resonator This device was fabricated using a very simple single step fabrication process It shows a large bandwidth (45 MHz), an operating frequency tunable between 59 GHz and 68 GHz and a large input saturation power (-117 dBm) when biased to obtain 20 dB of gain Despite the length of the SQUID array being comparable to the wavelength, we present a model based on an effective non-linear LC series resonator that quantitatively describes these figures of merit without fitting parameters Our work illustrates the advantage of using array-based JPA since a single-SQUID device showing the same bandwidth and resonant frequency would display a saturation power 15 dB lower

Understanding the saturation power of Josephson Parametric Amplifiers made from SQUIDs arrays

Existing scalable superconducting quantum processors have only nearest-neighbor coupling. This leads to reduced circuit depth, requiring large series of gates to perform an arbitrary unitary operation in such systems. Recently, multi-modal devices have been demonstrated as a promising candidate for small quantum processor units. Always on longitudinal coupling in such circuits leads to implementation of native high fidelity multi-qubit gates. We propose an architecture using such devices as building blocks for a highly connected larger quantum circuit. To demonstrate a quantum operation between such blocks, a standard transmon is coupled to the multi-modal circuit using a 3D bus cavity giving rise to small exchange interaction between the transmon and one of the modes. We study the cross resonance interaction in such systems and characterize the entangling operation as well as the unitary imperfections and cross-talk as a function of device parameters. Finally, we tune up the cross resonance drive to implement multi-qubit gates in this architecture.

Engineering Cross Resonance Interaction in Multi-modal Quantum Circuits.

Qubit coherence and gate fidelity are typically considered the two most important metrics for characterizing a quantum processor. An equally important metric is inter-qubit connectivity as it minimizes gate count and allows implementing algorithms efficiently with reduced error. However, inter-qubit connectivity in superconducting processors tends to be limited to nearest neighbour due to practical constraints in the physical realization. Here, we introduce a novel superconducting architecture that uses a ring resonator as a multi-path coupling element with the qubits uniformly distributed throughout its circumference. Our planar design provides significant enhancement in connectivity over state of the art superconducting processors without any additional fabrication complexity. We theoretically analyse the qubit connectivity and experimentally verify it in a device capable of supporting up to twelve qubits where each qubit can be connected to nine other qubits. Our concept is scalable, adaptable to other platforms and has the potential to significantly accelerate progress in quantum computing, annealing, simulations and error correction.

Anirban Bhattacharjee

Papers

Engineering Cross Resonance Interaction in Multi-modal Quantum Circuits.

Long-range connectivity in a superconducting quantum processor using a ring resonator