Quantum Computing with Nanoscale Josephson Junctions
Department of Physics and Astronomy
The
research supported by an NSF NIRT grant focuses on the design, fabrication
and characterization of a fundamentally new class of fault-tolerant logical
elements of a quantum computer (a.k.a. qubits). For successful
implementation of quantum computing, qubits should be sufficiently decoupled
(“protected”) from the environment so that quantum error-correction
protocols can be implemented. The proposed novel approach to this
challenging problem is based on incorporating error correction at the
“hardware” level, using nontrivial symmetries and engineering the
interactions between superconducting elements (nanoscale Josephson
junctions) of a logical qubit. The effort is based on a continuous feedback
loop between theory and experiment. The ultimate goal of the project is to
develop the first solid-state logical element for quantum computation that
would be simultaneously scalable and adequately protected from environmental
noise. Development of fabrication-friendly designs for protected
superconducting qubits, and the subsequent construction and characterization
of these novel nanodevices will be crucial for the successful realization of
quantum computation. The experiments will provide a testing ground for the
physical realization of ideas of symmetry-based protection developed in
field theory, with the aim of applying them to computer science.
