Quantum theory of the low-frequency linear susceptibility of interferometer-type superconducting qubits

We use the density matrix formalism to analyze the interaction of interferometer-type superconducting qubits with a high quality tank circuit, which frequency is well below the gap frequency of a qubit. We start with the ground state characterization of the superconducting flux and charge qubits. Then, by making use of a dressed state approach we describe the qubits' spectroscopy when the qubit is irradiated by a microwave field which is tuned to the gap frequency. The last section of the paper is devoted to continuous monitoring of qubit states by using a DC SQUID in the inductive mode.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures; the title and abstract are slightly changed; several typos are corrected; in order to make our argumentation more clear we added some comments in the introduction and other section

Magnetic flux noise in the three Josephson junctions superconducting ring

We analyze the influence of noise on magnetic properties of a su- perconducting loop which contains three Josephson junctions. This circuit is a classical analog of a persistent current (flux) qubit. A loop supercurrent induced by external magnetic field in the presence of thermal fluctuations is calculated. In order to get connection with experiment we calculate the impedance of the low-frequency tank cir- cuit which is inductively coupled with a loop of interest. We compare obtained results with the results in quantum mode - when the three junction loop exhibits quantum tunneling of the magnetic flux. We demonstrate that the tank-loop impedance in the classical and quan- tum modes have different temperature dependence and can be easily distinguished experimentally.Comment: 19 pages 9 figure

Radio-Frequency Method for Investigation of Quantum Properties of Superconducting Structures

We implement the impedance measurement technique (IMT) for characterization of interferometer-type superconducting qubits. In the framework of this method, the interferometer loop is inductively coupled to a high-quality tank circuit. We show that the IMT is a powerful tool to study a response of externally controlled two-level system to different types of excitations. Conclusive information about qubits is obtained from the read-out of the tank properties.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures;to be published in Fizika Nizkikh Temperatur (Low Temperature Physics); v3: minor polishing; fina

Paramagnetic effect in YBaCuO grain boundary junctions

A detailed investigation of the magnetic response of YBaCuO grain boundary Josephson junctions has been carried out using both radio-frequency measurements and Scanning SQUID Microscopy. In a nominally zero-field-cooled regime we observed a paramagnetic response at low external fields for 45 degree asymmetric grain boundaries. We argue that the observed phenomenology results from the d-wave order parameter symmetry and depends on Andreev bound states.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.

High--TcT_c RF SQUIDs with Large Inductance of Quantization Loop

Experimental data on signal and noise characteristics of high--$T_c$ RF SQUIDs with large inductance of quantization loop are presented. The SQUIDs were produced by a thick--film HTS--technique of painting on the Y$_2$BaCuO$_5$ substrate. For the first time, a steady quantum interference was observed in RF SQUID with the inductance as large as $L_S=6.6$ nH, that is, 60 times higher than the fluctuation inductance $L_F\simeq10^{-10}H$ at the liquid nitrogen temperature T=77 K. A new method is offered to evaluate the sensitivity of RF SQUID with optimum inductance of the quantization loop.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Continuous Monitoring of Rabi Oscillations in a Josephson Flux Qubit

Under resonant irradiation, a quantum system can undergo coherent (Rabi) oscillations in time. We report evidence for such oscillations in a _continuously_ observed three-Josephson-junction flux qubit, coupled to a high-quality tank circuit tuned to the Rabi frequency. In addition to simplicity, this method of_Rabi spectroscopy_ enabled a long coherence time of about 2.5 microseconds, corresponding to an effective qubit quality factor \~7000.Comment: REVTeX4, 4pp., 4 EPS figure files. v3: changed title, fixed typos; final, to appear in PR

Low-frequency characterization of quantum tunneling in flux qubits

We propose to investigate flux qubits by the impedance measurement technique (IMT), currently used to determine the current--phase relation in Josephson junctions. We analyze in detail the case of a high-quality tank circuit coupled to a persistent-current qubit, to which IMT was successfully applied in the classical regime. It is shown that low-frequency IMT can give considerable information about the level anticrossing, in particular the value of the tunneling amplitude. An interesting difference exists between applying the ac bias directly to the tank and indirectly via the qubit. In the latter case, a convenient way to find the degeneracy point in situ is described. Our design only involves existing technology, and its noise tolerance is quantitatively estimated to be realistic.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Phys.Rev.

Quantum behaviour of a flux qubit coupled to a resonator

We present a detailed theoretical analysis for a system of a superconducting flux qubit coupled to a transmission line resonator. The master equation, accounting incoherent processes for a weakly populated resonator, is analytically solved. An electromagnetic wave transmission coefficient through the system, which provides a tool for probing dressed states of the qubit, is derived. We also consider a general case for the resonator with more than one photon population and compare the results with an experiment on the qubit-resonator system in the intermediate coupling regime, when the coupling energy is comparable with the qubit relaxation rate.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure

Boundary Condition Effect On Photoacoustic Response Of Absorbing Liquid To Modulation Of Laser Intensity

The  photoacoustic  (PA)  pressure  response  of  the absorbing  liquid  (water, ethanol)  with  free  and confined  surface  to  laser  pulse  with  modulated intensity is studied.  Modulation  amplitude  of  the PA  signal  demonstrates  non-monotonous behavior during laser pulse action which can be explained as interference  between thermo-acoustic  and vaporization  mechanisms  of  pressure  generation. The phase behavior of modulated part of PA signal also  gives  important  information  on processes  in the  irradiated  matter.  Doppler  photoacoustic monitoring  (DPM)  is used  to  determine  surface movement  during  laser  irradiation  (wavelength  – 2.94 um,  pulse  duration  ~  200-300  ns,  fluence  ~ 0.3-1.6  J/cm2).  In  the  case  of free  surface  this movement  is  possible  into  the  upward  and downward  directions while  for  the  constrained irradiated surface only one movement is supposed. This supposition  is  in  agreement  with  the experiment.  However  the  total  behavior  of PA response  is  more  complicated  due  to  probably vapor  cavity  formation between liquid  and  solid surfaces.  In  particular,  despite  the  imposed constraint PA response behavior resembles the free surface case

Decoherence of Phase Qubit using High-Tc Superconductor

We discuss how to make use of high-Tc d-wave Josephson junctions in the construction of a phase qubit. We especially focus on the effect of the quasiparticle dissipation and the zero energy bound state on the macroscopic quantum tunneling which corresponds to the final measurement process of the d-wave phase qubit.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Physica