top of page
Writer's picturemansour ansari

Hardware analysis, qubit control and measurement


This post covers the basic anatomy of a superconducting quantum computer system. Inside the box, there is a dilution refrigerator, Microwave Puls generators, mixers, modulators, attenuation system, different measurement systems, DC readout, and control modules. The box is attached to a classical computer system specialized hardware that controls the Write, Read, Read/Measurement operation, gate building (for example, the CNOT and Hadamard Gates) to and from the quantum box. The classical software also simultaneously controls the Write/Read Operation, qubit Flipping, Gate Building, Circuit Design, Algorithm, Simulation tasks, all done using the classical computer. The classical system can run any OS as long as the OS is capable of talking to the Quantum box using the Cloud.


So back to writing quantum registers; we know we can set a register in our classical computer to either zero or one at will. we can do the same using specific microwave pulses (inside the quantum box) to force the quantum states to a desired state and that is a powerful ability to make the nature behave. With that much power we can change the course of humanity.


Classical computer attached to a Microwave Pulse Generator and Control system and then wired to the qubits sitting at the bottom of the refrigerator


So, now we can set the value of the qubit that is sitting deep in the dilution refrigerator and

begin the calculation, which is running the gates within the circuit that runs an algorithm. So, we can Write that bit value using the classical box.



From there, we can also Read and Measure back, reversing the path back to the classical computer sitting next to the quantum box at room temperature. By the way, the reason for the Dilution refrigerator is that in that extreme temperature, the qubit behaves within the rules of the Quantum world, displaying superposition behavior (both 0 and 1 and every amplitude in-between. The idea is to get the qubits to run the probabilities of certain outcomes. The ideal quantum box will have thousands of qubits running at high fidelity, staying in superposition at command, and solving intractable problems.


1- Microware Pulse Control and Measurement system

2- Pulse Generator

3 - Signal Mixer IQ mixer, The IQ mixer, also known as a quadrature mixer, is a key hardware element in the microwave chain that lets us control qubits.

4- Microwave frequency generator

5- ADC - qubits can be driven and read out by room-temperature electronics connected to the cryogenic qubits by only a few wires.

6- Mixer

7- Pulse Generator

8- Dilution refrigerator

9- Attenuator signal travel path down to the qubit while there is lowest noise level -

10- Qubit sitting inside refrigerator


Next post, I will cover the anatomy of an ion trap system.

Additional reading here.


27 views

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page