Solid-State Qubits in Extreme Environments
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Research Topic Description, including Problem Statement:
Qubits based on superconducting circuits and spins in semiconducting quantum dots typically require operation at mK temperatures and in a pristinely filtered and shielded environment. Furthermore, variations in measurement setup often results in varying results from lab to lab, even with nominally identical devices. Operation in more extreme environments could enable lower complexity and lower cost cryogenic setups; operation in large magnetic fields for novel research directions or less sensitivity to precise details of the experimental setup.
This topic aims to develop schemes for operation of superconducting and/or spin-based gate-defined quantum dots in extreme environments:
- At cryogenic temperatures above 300mK; thus avoiding the requirement of dilution refrigeration technology
- In large magnetic fields to enable novel research directions
- In poorly filtered and shielded environments to enable consistent operation in different laboratories, test setups and global environments
Example Approaches:
Examples of work for operation in extreme environments:
- Development of active cooling procedures to enable high fidelity state preparation at elevated temperatures. Such procedures could be analogous to laser cooling techniques used in the atomic community. This work may also require design and optimization of the qubit energy-level structure to enable such techniques.
- Novel material exploration compatible with operation in high magnetic field and/or high temperature operation. This work may also involve novel component development e.g. high temperature Josephson Junctions
- Engineering of the qubit environment. For example: modification of the qubit substrate to enhance isolation; enhanced thermalization of components such as qubit chip and I/O; novel filtering schemes both on-chip and in the I/O; and autonomous pumping schemes to remove excess excitations without user intervention
- Demonstration of state-of-the-art qubit control and readout fidelities in an extreme environment
- Qubit circuit and chip design to reduce sensitivity to environmental perturbations e.g. IR radiation, high-energy impacts. Alternatively, on-chip sensors to detect a disruptive event and/or to minimize environmental perturbations
Relevance to the Intelligence Community:
Leading solid-state quantum computing approaches require operation in cold and highly controlled environments. Best practices for maintaining such environments have been built-up over time, but vary from laboratory to laboratory and qubit-to-qubit. Developing techniques, designs and methods to reduce reliance on these practices would enable broader adoption and more consistent experimental results.
Key Words: Quantum Computing, Qubits, Temperature, Magnetic Field, Radiation
Postdoc Eligibility
- U.S. citizens only
- Ph.D. in a relevant field must be completed before beginning the appointment and within five years of the application deadline
- Proposal must be associated with an accredited U.S. university, college, or U.S. government laboratory
- Eligible candidates may only receive one award from the IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
Research Advisor Eligibility
- Must be an employee of an accredited U.S. university, college or U.S. government laboratory
- Are not required to be U.S. citizens
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.
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