NIST scientists have developed a new “dimmer switch” for superconducting quantum computing circuits, allowing researchers to control the interaction strength between quantum bits (qubits) and quantum buses. The switch, a radio-frequency SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device), can adjust the coupling energy or transfer rate of a single microwave photon between the qubit and cavity, enabling flexible control over complex quantum networks.
The new NIST switch is the first to demonstrate predictable quantum behavior over time with controllable exchange of an individual microwave photon between a qubit and resonant cavity. This advance could speed up the development of practical quantum computers by enabling researchers to flexibly control interactions between many circuit elements in intricate networks.
The switch research was supported in part by the Army Research Office and builds on previous work by Simmonds’s group demonstrating the first superconducting quantum bus between qubits. The development could potentially lead to more efficient quantum computing architectures and improved error correction techniques.
Keywords: qubit, microwave, superconducting
