We study two flux qubits with a parameter coupling scenario. Under the rotating wave approximation, we truncate the 4-dimensional Hilbert space of a coupling flux qubits system to a 2-dimensional subspace spanned by two dressed states |01 and |10 . In this subspace, we illustrate how to generate an Aharnov-Anandan phase, based on which, we can construct a NOT gate (as effective as a C-NOT gate) in this coupling flux qubits system. Finally, the fidelity of the NOT gate is also calculated in the presence of the simulated classical noise.
We report the fabrication and the study of superconducting properties of ultra-thin Nb superconducting meander nanowires, which can be used as superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs). The ultra-thin(about 7-nm thick) Nb films are patterned into micro-bridges, and 100-nm wide meander nanowires by using e-beam lithography(EBL). The average transition temperature(Tc) of the nanowires is about 4.8 K and the critical current density jc is about2.8×106A/cm2. Superconducting characteristics of the specimens at different applied magnetic fields up to 8 T(parallel or perpendicular to the specimen) are systematically investigated. The normalized temperature t(= T /Tc) dependences of the parallel critical field(Hc) for both the micro-bridge and the meander nanowire are almost the same, following the Ginzburg and Landau(GL) formalism for ultra-thin films. However, in perpendicular field and in the vicinity of Tc(> 0.95Tc), the critical field Hc⊥of the nanowire exhibits a down-turn curvature nonlinear temperature dependence while the micro-bridge displays a linear temperature dependence. The nonlinear behavior of Hc⊥in the nanowire is believed to be due to the fact that in the vicinity of Tc the coherence length becomes larger than the line width. Additionally, the localization of carriers in the nanowire could also contribute to the nonlinear behavior. The resistive transitions could be described by the phase-slip model for quasi-one-dimensional system. Moreover, the hysteresis in I–V curve of the meander nanowires can be illustrated by a simple model of localized normal hotspot maintained by Joule heating.
We carry out an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment based on high-T c superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The measurement field is in a micro-tesla range (～10 μT-100 μT) and the experiment is conducted in a home-made magnetically-shielded-room (MSR). The measurements are performed by the indirect coupling method in which the signal of nuclei precession is indirectly coupled to the SQUID through a tuned copper coil transformer. In such an arrangement, the interferences of applied measurement and polarization field to the SQUID sensor are avoided and the performance of the SQUID is not destroyed. In order to compare the detection sensitivity obtained by using the SQUID with that achieved using a conventional low-noise-amplifier, we perform the measurements using a commercial room temperature amplifier. The results show that in a wide frequency range (～1 kHz-10 kHz) the measurements with the SQUID sensor exhibit a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Further, we discuss the dependence of NMR peak magnitude on measurement frequency. We attribute the reduction of the peak magnitude at high frequency to the increased field inhomogeneity as the measurement field increases. This is verified by compensating the field gradient using three sets of gradient coils.
We present the design of a superconducting flux qubit with a large loop inductance. The large loop inductance is desirable for coupling between qubits. The loop is configured into a gradiometer form that could reduce the interference from environmental magnetic noise. A combined Josephson junction, i.e., a DC-SQUID is used to replace the small Josephson junction in the usual 3-JJ (Josephaon junction) flux qubit, leading to a tunable energy gap by using an independent external flux line. We perform numerical calculations to investigate the dependence of the energy gap on qubit parameters such as junction capacitance, critical current, loop inductance, and the ratio of junction energy between small and large junctions in the flux qubit. We suggest a range of values for the parameters.
Besides serving as promising candidates for realizing quantum computing,superconducting quantum circuits are one of a few macroscopic physical systems in which fundamental quantum phenomena can be directly demonstrated and tested,giving rise to a vast field of intensive research work both theoretically and experimentally.In this paper we report our work on the fabrication of superconducting quantum circuits,starting from its building blocks:Al/AlOx /Al Josephson junctions.By using electron beam lithography patterning and shadow evaporation,we have fabricated aluminum Josephson junctions with a controllable critical current density(jc) and wide range of junction sizes from 0.01 μm2 up to 1 μm2.We have carried out systematical studies on the oxidation process in fabricating Al/AlOx/Al Josephson junctions suitable for superconducting flux qubits.Furthermore,we have also fabricated superconducting quantum circuits such as superconducting flux qubits and charge-flux qubits.
Superconducting nanowire single photon detector(SNSPD), as a new type of superconducting single photon detector(SPD), has a broad application prospect in quantum communication and other fields. In order to prepare SNSPD with high performance, it is necessary to fabricate a large area of uniform meander nanowires, which is the core of the SNSPD. In this paper, we demonstrate a process of patterning ultra-thin Nb N films into meander-type nanowires by using the nanoimprint technology. In this process, a combination of hot embossing nano-imprint lithography(HE-NIL) and ultraviolet nano-imprint lithography(UV-NIL) is used to transfer the meander nanowire structure from the NIL Si hard mold to the Nb N film. We have successfully obtained a Nb N nanowire device with uniform line width. The critical temperature(Tc) of the superconducting Nb N meander nanowires is about 5 K and the critical current(Ic) is about 3.5 μA at 2.5 K.
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 TRabi = 78 ns and energy relaxation time T1 = 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.
