Abstract: A quantum computing system includes a cryostat to support a low-temperature vacuum environment during operation of the quantum computing system; a quantum processor positioned in the cryostat; a first electronic control module external to the cryostat; a second electronic control module within the cryostat; at least one optical transmission line connecting the first electronic control module external to the cryostat with the second electronic control module internal to the cryostat, the optical transmission line being configured to transmit optical signals to and from the second electronic control module during operation of the quantum computing system; and a plurality of signal lines connecting the second electronic control module with the quantum processor, a first subset of the signal lines being configured to transmit microwave signals to and from the quantum processor during operation of the quantum computing system.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes a multi-dimensional array of qubit devices. Coupler devices reside at intervals between neighboring pairs of the qubit devices in the multi-dimensional array. Each coupler device is configured to produce an electromagnetic interaction between one of the neighboring pairs of qubit devices. In some cases, each qubit device has a respective qubit operating frequency that is independent of an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the qubit device, and the coupling strength of the electromagnetic interaction provided by each coupler device varies with an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the coupler device. In some cases, readout devices are each operably coupled to a single, respective qubit device to produce qubit readout signals that indicate the quantum state of the qubit device.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a quantum computing method is described. In some aspects, a control system in a quantum computing system assigns subsets of qubit devices in a quantum processor to respective cores. The control system identifies boundary qubit devices residing between the cores in the quantum processor and generates control sequences for each respective core. A signal delivery system in communication with the control system and the quantum processor receives control signals to execute the control sequences, and the control signals are applied to the respective cores in the quantum processor.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a computing system is configured to execute a quantum approximate optimization algorithm. In some aspects, a control system identifies a pair of qubit devices in a quantum processor. The quantum processor includes a connection that provides coupling between the pair of qubit devices. ZZ coupling between the pair of qubit devices is activated to execute a cost function defined in the quantum approximate optimization algorithm. The cost function is associated with a maximum cut problem, and the ZZ coupling is activated by allowing the pair of qubits to evolve under a natural Hamiltonian for a time period ?. One or more of the pair of qubit devices is measured to obtain an output from an execution of the quantum approximate optimization algorithm.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a superconducting quantum circuit system is modeled. In some aspects, a graph representing a quantum circuit system is generated. The graph includes vertices and edges; the edges represent circuit elements of the quantum circuit system, and the vertices represent physical connections between the circuit elements. Inverse inductances, conductances, capacitances, and junction inverse inductances are assigned to respective edges of the graph based on a lumped-element approximation of the quantum circuit system. A coordinate system is determined based on the graph, and a matrix representation of the system is determined based on the coordinate system. A Hamiltonian for the quantum circuit system is determined using the matrix representation, and the quantum circuit system is simulated based on the Hamiltonian.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a quantum logic control sequence is generated for a quantum information processor. In some aspects, a quantum computation to be performed by a quantum information processor is identified. The quantum information processor includes data qubits and is configured to apply entangling quantum logic operations to respective pairs of the data qubits. A graph representing the quantum information processor is defined. The graph includes vertices and edges; the vertices represent the data qubits, and the edges represent the entangling quantum logic operations. A quantum logic control sequence is generated based on the graph. The quantum logic control sequence includes a sequence of quantum logic operations configured to perform the quantum computation when executed by the quantum information processor.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a microwave quantum circuit includes an on-chip impedance matching circuit. In some cases, a microwave quantum circuit includes a dielectric substrate, a quantum circuit device on the substrate, and an impedance matching circuit device on the substrate. The quantum circuit device includes a Josephson junction, and the impedance matching circuit device is coupled to the quantum circuit device on the substrate.

Abstract: In a general aspect, control of a quantum superconducting circuit is analyzed. In some implementation, a parameter set for a control signal for a superconducting quantum circuit is received. The parameters set can include initial voltage amplitudes for respective time segments of the control signal. A first subset of time segments is selected for improving a quality measure of a quantum logic operation produced by delivery of the control signal in the superconducting quantum circuit. New voltage amplitudes are calculated for one or more segments in the first subset, such that the new voltage amplitudes improve the quality measure. The parameter set is updated to include the new voltage amplitudes for the first subset while preserving the initial voltage amplitudes for a second subset of the time segments.

Abstract: In a general aspect, control of a quantum superconducting circuit is analyzed. In some implementation, a parameter set for a control signal for a superconducting quantum circuit is received. The parameters set can include initial voltage amplitudes for respective time segments of the control signal. A first subset of time segments is selected for improving a quality measure of a quantum logic operation produced by delivery of the control signal in the superconducting quantum circuit. New voltage amplitudes are calculated for one or more segments in the first subset, such that the new voltage amplitudes improve the quality measure. The parameter set is updated to include the new voltage amplitudes for the first subset while preserving the initial voltage amplitudes for a second subset of the time segments.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum simulation method includes generating a set of models representing a quantum system. The set of models includes subsystem models representing respective fragments of the quantum system. The quantum system is simulated by operating the set of models on a computer system that includes a classical processor unit and multiple unentangled quantum processor units (QPUs), and the unentangled QPUs operate the respective subsystem models. In some examples, density matrix embedding theory (DMET) is used to compute an approximate ground state energy for the quantum system.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a qubit device includes two circuit loops. In some aspects, a first circuit loop includes a first Josephson junction, a second circuit loop includes a second Josephson junction, and the first and second loops are configured to receive a magnetic flux that defines a transition frequency of a qubit device. In some aspects, a quantum integrated circuit includes an inductor connected between a first circuit node and a second circuit node; the first Josephson junction connected in parallel with the inductor between the first circuit node and the second circuit node; and the second Josephson junction connected in parallel with the inductor between the first circuit node and the second circuit node.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum information processing circuit includes a lumped-element device on the surface of a dielectric substrate. The lumped-element device can include a capacitor pad and an inductive transmission line. The capacitor pad can be capacitively coupled to another capacitor pad. The inductive transmission line can reside in an interior clearance area defined by an inner boundary of the capacitor pad. The lumped-element device can be, for example, a resonator device or a filter device. The inductive transmission line can be, for example, a meander inductor.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes a multi-dimensional array of qubit devices. Coupler devices reside at intervals between neighboring pairs of the qubit devices in the multi-dimensional array. Each coupler device is configured to produce an electromagnetic interaction between one of the neighboring pairs of qubit devices. In some cases, each qubit device has a respective qubit operating frequency that is independent of an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the qubit device, and the coupling strength of the electromagnetic interaction provided by each coupler device varies with an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the coupler device. In some cases, readout devices are each operably coupled to a single, respective qubit device to produce qubit readout signals that indicate the quantum state of the qubit device.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a quantum logic gate can be performed by tuning a coupler device. One or more coupler control signals can be received at a coupler device in a quantum processor cell. In some instances, in response to the coupler control signals, a coupler operating frequency of the coupler device changes toward a qubit operating frequency of a qubit device, and a phase shift arises in a quantum state of the qubit device due to an interaction between the qubit device and the coupler device. In some instances, in response to the control signals, the coupler operating frequency changes toward a first qubit operating frequency of a first qubit device, then changes toward a second qubit operating frequency of a second qubit device, and a controlled-phase shift arises in a quantum state of the qubit devices due to interactions between the coupler device and the respective qubit devices.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a quantum information processing circuit is analyzed. In some implementations, a linear response function of a quantum information processing circuit is generated. A linear circuit model is generated based on the linear response function. A composite circuit model is generated by combining the linear circuit model and a nonlinear circuit model. An operating parameter of the quantum information processing circuit is computed by solving the composite circuit model. In some implementations, an electromagnetic structure solver determines the linear response function based on a circuit specification, a quantum circuit analysis tool calculates the operating parameters, and the circuit specification is modified based on the operating parameters.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum information processing circuit includes a lumped-element device on the surface of a dielectric substrate. The lumped-element device can include a capacitor pad and an inductive transmission line. The capacitor pad can be capacitively coupled to another capacitor pad. The inductive transmission line can reside in an interior clearance area defined by an inner boundary of the capacitor pad. The lumped-element device can be, for example, a resonator device or a filter device. The inductive transmission line can be, for example, a meander inductor.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes a multi-dimensional array of qubit devices. Coupler devices reside at intervals between neighboring pairs of the qubit devices in the multi-dimensional array. Each coupler device is configured to produce an electromagnetic interaction between one of the neighboring pairs of qubit devices. In some cases, each qubit device has a respective qubit operating frequency that is independent of an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the qubit device, and the coupling strength of the electromagnetic interaction provided by each coupler device varies with an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the coupler device. In some cases, readout devices are each operably coupled to a single, respective qubit device to produce qubit readout signals that indicate the quantum state of the qubit device.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes an electromagnetic waveguide system. The waveguide system has an interior surface that defines an interior volume of intersecting waveguides. Qubit devices are housed in the waveguide system. In some cases, the intersecting waveguides each define a cutoff frequency, and the qubit devices have qubit operating frequencies below the cutoff frequency. In some cases, coupler devices are housed in the waveguide system; each coupler device is configured to selectively couple a pair of neighboring qubit devices based on control signals received from a control source.

Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes a control system and a quantum processor cell. The control system generates quantum processor control information for a group of devices housed in the quantum processor cell, and each device in the group has a distinct operating frequency. In some cases, a waveform generator generates a multiplexed control signal based on the quantum processor control information, and the multiplexed control signal is communicated an input signal processing system. In some cases, the input signal processing system includes an input channel configured to receive the multiplexed control signal, a de-multiplexer configured to separate device control signals from the multiplexed control signal, and output channels configured to communicate the respective device control signals into the quantum processor cell.