Showing papers by "Erik Lucero published in 2008"

Generation of Fock states in a superconducting quantum circuit.

Abstract: In cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), light–matter interactions between a single emitter (an atom or an atom-like system with discrete energy levels) and a resonant optical cavity are investigated at a fundamental level. Recent advances in solid-state implementations, which offer great design flexibility, have given this field considerable momentum. An outstanding important question has been which features in such a system show true quantum behaviour and cannot be explained with classical models. Hofheinz et al. study a 'circuit' QED system where a superconducting qubit acts as an atom-like two-energy level system and is embedded in a microwave transmission circuit, acting as the optical cavity. They demonstrate in this system the creation of pure quantum states, known as Fock states, which give specific numbers of energy quanta, in this case photons. Fock states with up to six photons are prepared and analysed. The results are important because cavity QED is expected to play a crucial role in the development of quantum information processing and communication applications. A 'circuit' quantum electrodynamics system where a superconducting qubit acts as an atom-like two-energy level system and is embedded in a microwave transmission circuit (acting as the optical cavity) is studied. In this system, it is demonstrated that the creation of pure quantum states, known as Fock states, which give specific numbers of energy quanta, in this case photons. Fock states with up to six photons are prepared and analysed. Spin systems and harmonic oscillators comprise two archetypes in quantum mechanics1. The spin-1/2 system, with two quantum energy levels, is essentially the most nonlinear system found in nature, whereas the harmonic oscillator represents the most linear, with an infinite number of evenly spaced quantum levels. A significant difference between these systems is that a two-level spin can be prepared in an arbitrary quantum state using classical excitations, whereas classical excitations applied to an oscillator generate a coherent state, nearly indistinguishable from a classical state2. Quantum behaviour in an oscillator is most obvious in Fock states, which are states with specific numbers of energy quanta, but such states are hard to create3,4,5,6,7. Here we demonstrate the controlled generation of multi-photon Fock states in a solid-state system. We use a superconducting phase qubit8, which is a close approximation to a two-level spin system, coupled to a microwave resonator, which acts as a harmonic oscillator, to prepare and analyse pure Fock states with up to six photons. We contrast the Fock states with coherent states generated using classical pulses applied directly to the resonator.

Microwave dielectric loss at single photon energies and millikelvin temperatures

Abstract: The microwave performance of amorphous dielectric materials at very low temperatures and very low excitation strengths displays significant excess loss. Here, we present the loss tangents of some common amorphous and crystalline dielectrics, measured at low temperatures (T<100mK) with near single-photon excitation energies, E∕ℏω0∼1, using both coplanar waveguide and lumped LC resonators. The loss can be understood using a two-level state defect model. A circuit analysis of the half-wavelength resonators we used is outlined, and the energy dissipation of such a resonator on a multilayered dielectric substrate is theoretically considered.

Process tomography of quantum memory in a Josephson-phase qubit coupled to a two-level state

Abstract: Defects in Josephson junctions are considered a nuisance when it comes to using superconducting circuits as building blocks for a quantum-information processor. But if the interaction between the circuit and defects is accurately controlled—as has been demonstrated now—the imperfections might be useful, serving as memory elements.

Reversal of the Weak Measurement of a Quantum State in a Superconducting Phase Qubit

Abstract: We demonstrate in a superconducting qubit the conditional recovery (uncollapsing) of a quantum state after a partial-collapse measurement. A weak measurement extracts information and results in a nonunitary transformation of the qubit state. However, by adding a rotation and a second partial measurement with the same strength, we erase the extracted information, canceling the effect of both measurements. The fidelity of the state recovery is measured using quantum process tomography and found to be above 70% for partial-collapse strength less than 0.6.

Measurement of the decay of Fock states in a superconducting quantum circuit.

Abstract: We demonstrate the controlled generation of Fock states with up to 15 photons in a microwave coplanar waveguide resonator coupled to a superconducting phase qubit. The subsequent decay of the Fock states, due to dissipation, is then monitored by varying the time delay between preparing the state and performing a number-state analysis. We find that the decay dynamics can be described by a master equation where the lifetime of the n-photon Fock state scales as 1/n, in agreement with theory. We have also generated a coherent state in the microwave resonator, and monitored its decay process. We demonstrate that the coherent state maintains a Poisson distribution as it decays, with an average photon number that decreases with the same characteristic decay time as the one-photon Fock state.

High-fidelity gates in a single josephson qubit.

Abstract: We demonstrate new experimental procedures for measuring small errors in a superconducting quantum bit (qubit). By carefully separating out gate and measurement errors, we construct a complete error budget and demonstrate single qubit gate fidelities of 0.98, limited by energy relaxation. We also introduce a new metrology tool-- Ramsey interference error filter-that can measure the occupation probability of the state |2> which is outside the computational basis, down to 10{-4}, thereby confirming that our quantum system stays within the qubit manifold during single qubit logic operations.

Transformed dissipation in superconducting quantum circuits

Abstract: Superconducting quantum circuits must be designed carefully to avoid dissipation from coupling to external control circuitry. We describe a reformulation of dissipation theory based on a current-to-current transformer model. We test this theory with an experimentally determined impedance transformation of $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{5}$ and find quantitative agreement better than a factor of 2 between this transformation and the reduced lifetime of a phase qubit coupled to a tunable transformer. Higher-order corrections from quantum fluctuations are also calculated with this theory, but found not to limit the qubit lifetime. We also illustrate how this simple connection between current and impedance transformation can be used to rule out dissipation sources in experimental qubit systems.