Electronic circuit and calculating device

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-170581, filed on Sep. 12, 2018; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic circuit and a calculating device.

For example, a calculating device that includes multiple quantum bits has been proposed. In electronic circuits such as couplers that couple multiple quantum bits and the like, it is desirable for the coupling coefficient of the coupler to be tunable.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an electronic circuit and a calculating device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the electronic circuit according to the first embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic circuit and the calculating device according to the first embodiment.

According to one embodiment, an electronic circuit includes a superconducting element and a supplier. The superconducting element includes a first conductive component and a second conductive component. The first conductive component includes a first end, a second end, and a first portion. The first end is capacitively coupled to a first quantum bit having a first characteristic frequency. The second end is capacitively coupled to a second quantum bit having a second characteristic frequency. The first portion is between the first end and the second end. The second conductive component includes a third end, a fourth end, and a Josephson junction provided between the third end and the fourth end. The fourth end is capacitively coupled to the first portion. The supplier is configured to supply a microwave to the third end. The microwave includes one of a first wave, a second wave, or a third wave. A frequency of the first wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times ½ of a sum of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. The second wave includes a fourth wave and a fifth wave. A sum of a frequency of the fourth wave and a frequency of the fifth wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times the sum of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. The third wave includes a sixth wave and a seventh wave. An absolute value of a difference between a frequency of the sixth wave and a frequency of the seventh wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times an absolute value of a difference between the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency.

According to another embodiment, a calculating device includes the electronic circuit described above, the first quantum bit, and the second quantum bit.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings are schematic and conceptual; and the relationships between the thickness and width of portions, the proportions of sizes among portions, etc., are not necessarily the same as the actual values. The dimensions and proportions may be illustrated differently among drawings, even for identical portions.

In the specification and drawings, components similar to those described previously or illustrated in an antecedent drawing are marked with like reference numerals, and a detailed description is omitted as appropriate.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an electronic circuit and a calculating device according to a first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic circuit 151 according to the embodiment includes a superconducting element 50 and a supplier 60 . In the example, the electronic circuit 151 further includes a controller 70 . The controller 70 may be provided separately from the electronic circuit 151 .

The calculating device 251 according to the embodiment includes the electronic circuit 151 recited above, a first quantum bit 10 , and a second quantum bit 20 . The first quantum bit 10 has a first characteristic frequency. The second quantum bit 20 has a second characteristic frequency. The second characteristic frequency is different from the first characteristic frequency.

The superconducting element 50 includes a first conductive component 51 and a second conductive component 52 . The first conductive component 51 includes a first end T 1 , a second end T 2 , and a first portion 51 p . The first portion 51 p is provided between the first end T 1 and the second end T 2 . The first end T 1 is capacitively coupled to the first quantum bit 10 recited above having the first characteristic frequency. The second end T 2 is capacitively coupled to the second quantum bit 20 recited above having the second characteristic frequency. The electronic circuit 151 is, for example, a coupler (e.g., a tunable coupler). For example, the first conductive component 51 does not include a Josephson junction. For example, the critical current is sufficiently large between any two points of the first conductive component 51 . The critical current is, for example, greater than 0.1 mA. For example, the critical current is sufficiently large between one portion and another one portion of the first conductive component 51 . For example, the critical current is sufficiently large between the first end T 1 and the second end T 2 .

The second conductive component 52 includes a third end T 3 , a fourth end T 4 , and a Josephson junction 31 . The fourth end T 4 is capacitively coupled to the first portion 51 p . For example, an inter-component capacitance 55 a is provided between the first portion 51 p and the fourth end T 4 . For example, the superconducting element 50 includes the inter-component capacitance 55 a . The Josephson junction J 1 is provided between the third end T 3 and the fourth end T 4 .

The supplier 60 supplies a microwave 60 w to the third end T 3 . The supplier 60 is, for example, a microwave supplier.

In one example (a first example), the microwave 60 w includes a first wave. The frequency of the first wave is substantially equal to the average value of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. The characteristic angular frequency of the first characteristic frequency is taken as a first characteristic angular frequency ω1. The characteristic angular frequency of the second characteristic frequency is taken as a second characteristic angular frequency ω2. The angular frequency of the first wave is taken as a first angular frequency ωd. For example, the relationship ωd=(ω1+ω2)/2 is substantially satisfied.

For example, the frequency of the first wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times ½ of the sum of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency.

In another example (a second example), the microwave 60 w includes a second wave. The second wave includes a fourth wave and a fifth wave. The sum of the frequency of the fourth wave and the frequency of the fifth wave is substantially equal to the sum of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. The angular frequency of the fourth wave is taken as a fourth angular frequency ωd4. The angular frequency of the fifth wave is taken as a fifth angular frequency ωd5. For example, the relationship ωd4+ωd5=ω1+ω2 is substantially satisfied.

For example, the sum of the frequency of the fourth wave and the frequency of the fifth wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times the sum of the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency.

In another example (a third example), the microwave 60 w includes a third wave. The third wave includes a sixth wave and a seventh wave. The absolute value of the difference between the frequency of the sixth wave and the frequency of the seventh wave is substantially equal to the absolute value of the difference between the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency. The angular frequency of the sixth wave is taken as a sixth angular frequency ωd6. The angular frequency of the seventh wave is taken as a seventh angular frequency ωd7. For example, the relationship ωd6−ωd7=ω1−ω2 is substantially satisfied. The first characteristic angular frequency ω1 and the second characteristic angular frequency ω2 are mutually-interchangeable. The sixth angular frequency ωd6 and the seventh angular frequency ωd7 are mutually-interchangeable.

For example, the absolute value of the difference between the frequency of the sixth wave and the frequency of the seventh wave is not less than 0.95 times and not more than 1.05 times the absolute value of the difference between the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency.

For example, the microwave 60 w includes one of the first to third waves recited above.

The first quantum bit 10 and the second quantum bit 20 which have mutually-different characteristic frequencies can be coupled by such an electronic circuit 151 . Because the characteristic frequencies are different, the effects of crosstalk can be suppressed.

The controller 70 controls at least one of an amplitude or a phase of the one of the first to third waves recited above. Thereby, the state of the coupling can be controlled. For example, the strength (e.g., the coupling coefficient) of the coupling can be tuned. For example, the phase of the coupling coefficient can be controlled.

The first end T 1 of the superconducting element 50 is capacitively coupled to the first quantum bit 10 . The second end T 2 is capacitively coupled to the second quantum bit 20 . For example, the capacitive coupling between the first end T 1 and the first quantum bit 10 is performed by a first coupling capacitance 10 C. The capacitive coupling between the second end T 2 and the second quantum bit 20 is performed by a second coupling capacitance 20 C. The first coupling capacitance 10 C and the second coupling capacitance 20 C may be included in the electronic circuit 151 . These capacitances may be provided separately from the electronic circuit 151 .

The third end T 3 and the supplier 60 are capacitively coupled. The electronic circuit 151 may further include a third end capacitance 55 c (referring to FIG. 1 ). The third end capacitance 55 c is provided between the third end T 3 and the supplier 60 . The third end capacitance 55 c may be included in one of the superconducting element 50 or the supplier 60 .

For example, research and development is being conducted for a quantum computer utilizing superconductivity. In one example of a quantum bit included in the quantum computer, for example, the anharmonicity (the nonuniformity of energy level spacing) due to a Josephson junction is utilized; and the ground state and a first excited state are used as the two states of the quantum bit. In such a case, the energy difference between the ground state and the first excited state corresponds to the characteristic frequency of the quantum bit. In another example, two superposition states of the photon number states of a resonator or an oscillator (e.g., two coherent states with opposite phases) are used as the two states of the quantum bit. In such a case, the resonant frequency of the resonator or the oscillation frequency of the oscillator corresponds to the characteristic frequency of the quantum bit.

For such quantum bits, there is a tunable coupler that can tune the coupling strength (the coupling coefficient) of the multiple quantum bits.

For example, it is desirable for the loss of the tunable coupler to be low. In the embodiment, for example, the first conductive component 51 does not include a Josephson junction. For example, the critical current is sufficiently large (e.g., greater than 0.1 mA) between any two points of the first conductive component 51 . Thereby, loss that is caused by a Josephson element does not occur in the first conductive component 51 . According to the embodiment, a low-loss tunable coupler can be provided.

The electronic elements that are coupled by the electronic circuit 151 according to the embodiment are, for example, quantum bits (the first quantum bit 10 , the second quantum bit 20 , etc.). Each of the quantum bits has a characteristic frequency (or a characteristic angular frequency). For example, in a quantum bit using the ground state and the first excited state, the frequency of the energy difference between the ground state and the first excited state divided by Planck's constant corresponds to the characteristic frequency of the quantum bit.

In the case where the electronic elements coupled by the electronic circuit 151 are resonators, the resonant frequencies are the characteristic frequencies. In the case where the electronic elements coupled by the electronic circuit 151 are oscillators, the oscillation frequencies are the characteristic frequencies.

The electronic circuit 151 (e.g., the tunable coupler) according to the embodiment can couple the quantum bits (the electronic elements) having different characteristic frequencies. Therefore, the effects of crosstalk can be reduced.

The electronic circuit 151 (e.g., the tunable coupler) according to the embodiment includes the superconducting element 50 . The superconducting element 50 includes, for example, a nonlinear microwave element having third-order nonlinearity. The nonlinear microwave element (the superconducting element 50 ) couples the first quantum bit 10 and the second quantum bit 20 via capacitances (the first coupling capacitance 10 C, the second coupling capacitance 20 C, etc.).

The nonlinear microwave element (the superconducting element 50 ) includes a Josephson junction. The third-order nonlinearity is obtained thereby. The microwave 60 w recited above is supplied to the nonlinear microwave element via the third end capacitance 55 c.

For example, the two quantum bits are coupled by utilizing a four-wave mixing process. For example, the coupling coefficient can be tuned by at least one of the amplitude or the phase of the supplied microwave.

In the embodiment, for example, it is favorable for the inter-component capacitance 55 a between the first portion 51 p and the fourth end T 4 to be larger than the first coupling capacitance 10 C between the first end T 1 and the first quantum bit 10 . For example, it is favorable for the inter-component capacitance 55 a to be larger than the second coupling capacitance 20 C between the second end T 2 and the second quantum bit 20 . Thereby, for example, the coupling can be large while suppressing the crosstalk.

For example, the inter-component capacitance 55 a is 2 times the first coupling capacitance 10 C or more. For example, the inter-component capacitance 55 a is 2 times the second coupling capacitance 20 C or more.

In the embodiment as described above, the first conductive component 51 does not include a Josephson junction. For example, the critical current between the first end T 1 and the second end T 2 is sufficiently large (e.g., greater than 0.1 mA).

In the embodiment, the absolute value of the difference between the first characteristic frequency and the second characteristic frequency is, for example, not less than 2 times the absolute value of the coupling coefficient of the capacitive coupling between the first quantum bit and the second quantum bit via the first conductive component 51 .

An example of the nonlinear microwave element (the superconducting element 50 ) will now be described. In the following drawings, the “x” symbol illustrates a Josephson junction. The capacitance between the two ends of the Josephson junction is not illustrated in the following drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the electronic circuit according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2 , a conductive film 31 A, a conductive film 31 B, and an insulating film 31 I are provided in the second conductive component 52 . For example, these films are provided on a substrate 5 s . One end of the conductive film 31 A is used as the third end T 3 . One end of the conductive film 31 B is used as the fourth end T 4 . The insulating film 31 I is provided between the other end of the conductive film 31 A and the other end of the conductive film 31 B. The portion that includes the insulating film 31 I is used as the Josephson junction J 1 .

An example of the electronic circuit 151 and the calculating device 251 will now be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the electronic circuit and the calculating device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the electronic circuit 151 includes the superconducting element 50 . The supplier 60 is not illustrated in FIG. 3 . The first conductive component 51 and the second conductive component 52 are provided in the superconducting element 50 . For example, the first portion 51 p of the first conductive component 51 and the fourth end T 4 of the second conductive component 52 have an interdigital structure. The inter-component capacitance 55 a is formed between the first portion 51 p and the fourth end T 4 . The fourth end T 4 corresponds to a portion of the conductive film 31 B. The third end T 3 of the second conductive component 52 corresponds to a portion of the conductive film 31 A. The Josephson junction J 1 is formed between the conductive film 31 A and the conductive film 31 B.

A third conductive component 53 is provided in the example. The third end capacitance 55 c is formed between the third conductive component 53 and the third end T 3 . In the example, the microwave 60 w is supplied to the third conductive component 53 . The microwave 60 w is supplied to the third end T 3 via the third end capacitance 55 c.

For example, the first quantum bit 10 includes a first quantum bit conductor 11 and a Josephson junction 10 J. For example, a capacitance 11 C is provided between a fixed potential (e.g., a ground potential GND) and the Josephson junction 10 J. The Josephson junction 10 J is provided between the capacitance 11 C and the first quantum bit conductor 11 . The first coupling capacitance 10 C is provided between the first quantum bit conductor 11 and the first end T 1 .

For example, the second quantum bit 20 includes a second quantum bit conductor 21 and a Josephson junction 20 J. For example, a capacitance 21 C is provided between the Josephson junction 20 J and a fixed potential (e.g., the ground potential GND). The Josephson junction 20 J is provided between the capacitance 21 C and the second quantum bit conductor 21 . The second coupling capacitance 20 C is provided between the second quantum bit conductor 21 and the second end T 2 .

According to the embodiments, an electronic circuit and a calculating device that are applicable to a coupler having a tunable coupling coefficient can be provided.

Hereinabove, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to specific examples. However, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to these specific examples. For example, one skilled in the art may similarly practice the invention by appropriately selecting specific configurations of components included in electronic circuits or oscillators such as superconducting elements, suppliers, controllers, etc., from known art. Such practice is included in the scope of the invention to the extent that similar effects thereto are obtained.

Further, any two or more components of the specific examples may be combined within the extent of technical feasibility and are included in the scope of the invention to the extent that the purport of the invention is included.

Moreover, all electronic circuits, and calculating devices practicable by an appropriate design modification by one skilled in the art based on the electronic circuits, and calculating devices described above as embodiments of the invention also are within the scope of the invention to the extent that the purport of the invention is included.

Various other variations and modifications can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the invention, and it is understood that such variations and modifications are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.