Abstract: Techniques are described to construct an electromagnetic resonator by arranging a resonant structure within a super-conducting cavity. The architecture of the design may provide a low loss superconducting cavity resonator that may exhibit multiple modes. The multimode nature of this resonator is produced in part by the resonant structure in such a way that allows the modes of the resonator to be adjusted through adjustment of the resonant structure rather than by having to alter the physical dimensions of the cavity, as would otherwise be required in a conventional superconducting cavity resonator. In some embodiments, the resonant structure may include a suspended superconductor comprising metal and/or metallized parts.

Abstract: The present application describes a waveform processor for control of quantum mechanical systems. The waveform processor may be used to control quantum systems used in quantum computation, such as qubits. According to some embodiments, a waveform processor includes a first sequencer configured to sequentially execute master instructions according to a defined order and output digital values in response to the executed master instructions, and a second sequencer coupled to the first sequencer and configured to generate analog waveforms at least in part by transforming digital waveforms according to digital values received from the first sequencer. The analog waveforms are applied to a quantum system. In some embodiments, the waveform processor further includes a waveform analyzer configured to integrate analog waveforms received from a quantum system and output results of said integration to the first sequencer.

Abstract: Techniques for providing hardware-efficient fault-tolerant quantum operations are provided. In some aspects a cavity and an ancilla transmon are used to implement a quantum operation by encoding a logical qubit using more than two energy levels of the cavity, encoding information using more than two energy levels of the ancilla transmon, and creating an interaction between the cavity and the ancilla transmon that decouples at least one error type in the ancilla transmon from the cavity.

Abstract: A wireless Josephson-junction-based amplifier is described that provides improved tunability and increased control over both a quality factor Q and participation ratio p of the amplifier. The device may be fabricated on a chip and mounted in a waveguide. No wire bonding between the amplifier and coaxial cables or a printed circuit board is needed. At least one antenna on the chip may be used to couple energy between the waveguide and wireless JBA. The amplifier is capable of gains greater than 25 dB.

Abstract: Techniques are described in which a qubit is far off-resonantly, or dispersively, coupled to a quantum mechanical oscillator. In particular, a dispersive coupling between a physical qubit and a quantum mechanical oscillator may be selected such that control of the combined qubit-oscillator system can be realized. The physical qubit may be driven with an electromagnetic pulse (e.g., a microwave pulse) and the quantum mechanical oscillator simultaneously driven with another electromagnetic pulse, the combination of which results in a change in state of the qubit-oscillator system.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying the Josephson potential of a transmon qubit by shunting the transmon with an inductance are described. The inclusion of this inductance may increase the confined potential of the qubit system compared with the conventional transmon, which may lead to a transmon qubit that is stable at much higher drive energies. The inductive shunt may serve the purpose of blocking some or all phase-slips between the electrodes of the qubit. As a result, the inductively shunted transmon may offer an advantage over conventional devices when used for applications involving high energy drives, whilst offering few to no drawbacks in comparison to conventional devices when used at lower drive energies.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method is provided of operating a system that includes a multi-level quantum system dispersively coupled to a first quantum mechanical oscillator and dispersively coupled to a second quantum mechanical oscillator, the method comprising applying a first drive waveform to the multi-level quantum system, applying one or more second drive waveforms to the first quantum mechanical oscillator, and applying one or more third drive waveforms to the second quantum mechanical oscillator.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying the Josephson potential of a transmon qubit by shunting the transmon with an inductance are described. The inclusion of this inductance may increase the confined potential of the qubit system compared with the conventional transmon, which may lead to a transmon qubit that is stable at much higher drive energies. The inductive shunt may serve the purpose of blocking some or all phase-slips between the electrodes of the qubit. As a result, the inductively shunted transmon may offer an advantage over conventional devices when used for applications involving high energy drives, whilst offering few to no drawbacks in comparison to conventional devices when used at lower drive energies.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a mechanical oscillator as a quantum memory are described. According to some aspects, a qubit may be coupled to a piezoelectric material such that the electric field of the qubit causes stress within the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material may be in contact with a crystalline substrate forming an acoustic resonator such that the qubit couples to bulk acoustic waves in the crystalline substrate via its interaction with the piezoelectric material. According to some aspects, application of a suitable electromagnetic pulse to the qubit may cause an exchange of energy from the qubit to the acoustic phonon system and thereby transfer quantum information from the qubit to the phonon system.

Abstract: Techniques for providing hardware-efficient fault-tolerant quantum operations are provided. In some aspects a cavity and an ancilla transmon are used to implement a quantum operation by encoding a logical qubit using more than two energy levels of the cavity, encoding information using more than two energy levels of the ancilla transmon, and creating an interaction between the cavity and the ancilla transmon that decouples at least one error type in the ancilla transmon from the cavity.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying the Josephson potential of a transmon qubit by shunting the transmon with an inductance are described. The inclusion of this inductance may increase the confined potential of the qubit system compared with the conventional transmon, which may lead to a transmon qubit that is stable at much higher drive energies. The inductive shunt may serve the purpose of blocking some or all phase-slips between the electrodes of the qubit. As a result, the inductively shunted transmon may offer an advantage over conventional devices when used for applications involving high energy drives, whilst offering few to no drawbacks in comparison to conventional devices when used at lower drive energies.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a mechanical oscillator as a quantum memory are described. According to some aspects, a qubit may be coupled to a piezoelectric material such that the electric field of the qubit causes stress within the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material may be in contact with a crystalline substrate forming an acoustic resonator such that the qubit couples to bulk acoustic waves in the crystalline substrate via its interaction with the suitable electromagnetic pulse to the qubit may cause an exchange of energy from the qubit to the acoustic phonon system and thereby transfer quantum information from the qubit to the phonon system.

Abstract: A wireless Josephson-junction-based parametric converter is described. The converter may be formed on a substrate with antennas that pump are configured to wirelessly receive pump, signal and idler frequencies and couple the received frequencies to the converter's circuitry. Capacitors may also be fabricated on the same substrate and sized to tune operation of the converter to desired frequencies. The converter may be coupled directly to microwave waveguides, and may be tuned to different signal frequencies by applying magnetic flux to the converter circuitry.

Abstract: A low-noise directional amplifier includes a first port, a second port, a first coupler and a second coupler. The first port is coupled to a first coupler. The low-noise directional amplifier also includes at least two phase preserving amplifiers, a first phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and a second coupler, and the second phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and the second coupler.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a quantum mechanical system is provided, comprising a resonator having a plurality of superconducting surfaces and configured to support at least one electromagnetic oscillation mode within a three-dimensional region, wherein the plurality of superconducting surfaces include a first superconducting surface that defines a first plane, and a physical qubit comprising at least one planar component that is planar within the first plane and borders the three-dimensional region.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a circuit is provided comprising a plurality of Josephson junctions arranged in series in a loop, at least one magnetic element producing magnetic flux through the loop, a plurality of superconducting resonators, each resonator coupled to the loop between a different neighboring pair of Josephson junctions of the plurality of Josephson junctions, a plurality of ports, each port coupled to at least one of the plurality of resonators at ends of the resonators opposite to ends at which the resonators are coupled to the loop, and at least one controller configured to provide input energy to each of the plurality of ports that causes the circuit to function as a circulator between the plurality of ports.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a device including multiple substrates comprising one or more troughs. The substrates are disposed such that the one or more troughs form at least one enclosure. At least one superconducting layer covers at least a portion of the at least one enclosure. Other embodiments are directed to a method for manufacturing a superconducting device. The method includes acts of forming at least one trough in at least a first substrate; covering at least a portion of the first substrate with a superconducting material; covering at least a portion of a second substrate with the superconducting material; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to form at least one enclosure comprising the at least one trough and the superconducting material.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a device including multiple substrates comprising one or more troughs. The substrates are disposed such that the one or more troughs form at least one enclosure. At least one superconducting layer covers at least a portion of the at least one enclosure. Other embodiments are directed to a method for manufacturing a superconducting device. The method includes acts of forming at least one trough in at least a first substrate; covering at least a portion of the first substrate with a superconducting material; covering at least a portion of a second substrate with the superconducting material; and bonding the first substrate and the second substrate to form at least one enclosure comprising the at least one trough and the superconducting material.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a quantum circuit is provided including a plurality of non-linear circuit elements coupled together in series and in parallel, such that at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in series and at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in parallel, wherein the quantum circuit is configured to act as an amplifier.

Abstract: A low-noise directional amplifier includes a first port, a second port, a first coupler and a second coupler. The first port is coupled to a first coupler. The low-noise directional amplifier also includes at least two phase preserving amplifiers, a first phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and a second coupler, and the second phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and the second coupler.