Optimizing Classical Hardware for Superconducting Qubit Control, Elizabeth Medina, UG '24 (AAFC1283)

Quantum computers have the potential to provide improvements in a variety of areas, including drug development, artificial intelligence, and finance. These computers use quantum mechanics to perform calculations and store information in sensitive quantum states. However, classical technologies, which are used to control these states, can sometimes have adverse effects on the information stored in the computer’s quantum bits (qubits). Reducing these negative effects is important for achieving scalable quantum computing, which is in turn required for solving interesting problems like those in the aforementioned fields. In this work, we integrate a radio frequency switch with a classical hardware setup used for superconducting qubit control. When comparing results from measurements taken without and with the switch installed, we find that in the latter setup, the qubit is better at maintaining the state we prepare it in. This indicates that the switch is able to reduce the negative impact of amplifier noise on the qubit’s sensitive information.