As quantum coherence times of superconducting circuits have increased from nanoseconds to hundreds of microseconds, they are currently one of the leading platforms for quantum information processing. However, coherence needs to further improve by orders of magnitude to reduce the prohibitive hardware overhead of current error correction schemes. Reaching this goal hinges on reducing the density of broken Cooper pairs, so-called quasiparticles. Here, we show that environmental radioactivity is a significant source of nonequilibrium quasiparticles. Moreover, ionizing radiation introduces time-correlated quasiparticle bursts in resonators on the same chip, further complicating quantum error correction. Operating in a deep-underground lead-shielded cryostat decreases the quasiparticle burst rate by a factor thirty and reduces dissipation up to a factor four, showcasing the importance of radiation abatement in future solid-state quantum hardware.

Cardani, L., Valenti, F., Casali, N., Catelani, G., Charpentier, T., Clemenza, M., et al. (2021). Reducing the impact of radioactivity on quantum circuits in a deep-underground facility. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 12(1) [10.1038/s41467-021-23032-z].

Reducing the impact of radioactivity on quantum circuits in a deep-underground facility

Clemenza M.;Gironi L.;
2021

Abstract

As quantum coherence times of superconducting circuits have increased from nanoseconds to hundreds of microseconds, they are currently one of the leading platforms for quantum information processing. However, coherence needs to further improve by orders of magnitude to reduce the prohibitive hardware overhead of current error correction schemes. Reaching this goal hinges on reducing the density of broken Cooper pairs, so-called quasiparticles. Here, we show that environmental radioactivity is a significant source of nonequilibrium quasiparticles. Moreover, ionizing radiation introduces time-correlated quasiparticle bursts in resonators on the same chip, further complicating quantum error correction. Operating in a deep-underground lead-shielded cryostat decreases the quasiparticle burst rate by a factor thirty and reduces dissipation up to a factor four, showcasing the importance of radiation abatement in future solid-state quantum hardware.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
quantum circuits, radiactivity
English
12-mag-2021
2021
12
1
2733
none
Cardani, L., Valenti, F., Casali, N., Catelani, G., Charpentier, T., Clemenza, M., et al. (2021). Reducing the impact of radioactivity on quantum circuits in a deep-underground facility. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 12(1) [10.1038/s41467-021-23032-z].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/329634
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