A near-quantum-limited Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier

作者:Macklin, C.*; O'Brien, K.; Hover, D.; Schwartz, M. E.; Bolkhovsky, V.; Zhang, X.; Oliver, W. D.; Siddiqi, I.
来源:Science, 2015, 350(6258): 307-310.
DOI:10.1126/science.aaa8525

摘要

Detecting single-photon level signals-carriers of both classical and quantum information-is particularly challenging for low-energy microwave frequency excitations. Here we introduce a superconducting amplifier based on a Josephson junction transmission line. Unlike current standing-wave parametric amplifiers, this traveling wave architecture robustly achieves high gain over a bandwidth of several gigahertz with sufficient dynamic range to read out 20 superconducting qubits. To achieve this performance, we introduce a subwavelength resonant phase-matching technique that enables the creation of nonlinear microwave devices with unique dispersion relations. We benchmark the amplifier with weak measurements, obtaining a high quantum efficiency of 75% (70% including noise added by amplifiers following the Josephson amplifier). With a flexible design based on compact lumped elements, this Josephson amplifier has broad applicability to microwave metrology and quantum optics.

  • 出版日期2015-10-16