NIST researchers have developed a “toggle switch” device that could help reduce noise in quantum computers, making them more reliable and easier to program. The device connects two superconducting qubits to a readout resonator, allowing scientists to adjust the strength of the connections between them. This programmable toggle switch can be turned on or off using microwave pulses, reducing noise and improving the ability to read qubit calculations accurately.
The toggle switch architecture helps protect qubits from external and internal noise, which can cause errors in quantum calculations. It also allows for easier reprogramming of quantum computers, as the microwave pulses can control the order and sequence of logic operations. This makes the chip more programmable through software rather than fixed hardware.
The team, which includes scientists from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Raytheon BBN Technologies, has published their findings in Nature Physics. While the current demonstration uses only two qubits and a single readout resonator, the researchers plan to expand to more qubits and resonators in future work. This could potentially lead to the construction of powerful quantum computers capable of solving complex problems that are currently intractable for classical computers.
Keywords: qubits, quantum computer, readout resonator, quantum bits, microwave pulses
