Energy Decay in Superconducting Josephson-Junction Qubits from Nonequilibrium Quasiparticle Excitations

Abstract

We calculate the energy decay rate of Josephson qubits and superconducting resonators from nonequilibrium quasiparticles. The decay rates from experiments are shown to be consistent with predictions based on a prior measurement of the quasiparticle density nqp 10=micrometers3, which suggests that nonequilibrium quasiparticles are an important decoherence source for Josephson qubits. Calculations of the energy-decay and diffusion of quasiparticles also indicate that prior engineered gap and trap structures, which reduce the density of quasiparticles, should be redesigned to improve their efficacy. This model also explains a striking feature in Josephson qubits and resonators-a small reduction in decay rate with increasing temperature.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 26, 2009
Accession Number
ADA509541

Entities

People

  • J. Aumentado
  • John M. Martinis
  • M. Ansmann

Organizations

  • University of California, Santa Barbara

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blackbody Radiation
  • Cosmic Rays
  • Critical Temperature
  • Current Density
  • Diffusion
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Ground State
  • Information Processing
  • Josephson Junctions
  • Low Temperature
  • Measurement
  • Particles
  • Probability
  • Quantum Information
  • Quantum Tunneling
  • Quasiparticles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Science - Quantum Dots