Period-doubling-bifurcation readout for a Josephson qubit

We propose a threshold detector with an operation principle, based on a parametric period-doubling bifurcation in an externally pumped nonlinear resonance circuit. The ac-driven resonance circuit includes a dc-current-biased Josephson junction ensuring parametric frequency conversion (period-doubling bifurcation) due to its quadratic nonlinearity. A sharp onset of oscillations at the half-frequency of the drive allows for detection of small variations of an effective inductance and, therefore, the read-out of the quantum state of a coupled Josephson qubit. The bifurcation characteristics of this circuit are compared with those of the conventional Josephson bifurcation amplifier, and its possible advantages are discussed.Comment: 6 page

Numerical analysis of a three-wave-mixing Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier with engineered dispersion loadings

The recently proposed Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) based on a ladder transmission line consisting of radio-frequency SQUIDs and exploiting three-wave mixing (3WM), has great potential in achieving both a gain of 20 dB and a flat bandwidth of at least 4 GHz. To realize this concept in practical amplifiers we model the advanced JTWPA circuit with periodic modulation of the circuit parameters (engineered dispersion loadings), which allow the basic mixing process, i.e., $\omega_s=\omega_p-\omega_i$, where $\omega_s$, $\omega_p$, and $\omega_i$ are the signal, the pump, and the idler frequencies, respectively, and efficiently suppress propagation of unwanted higher tones including $\omega_{2p}=2\omega_p$, $\omega_{p+s}=\omega_p +\omega_s$, $\omega_{p+i} = \omega_p + \omega_i$, etc. The engineered dispersion loadings allow achieving sufficiently wide $3$ dB-bandwidth from $3$ GHz to $9$ GHz combined with a reasonably small ripple ($\pm2$~dB) in the gain-versus-frequency dependence

Two-junction superconductor-normal metal single-electron trap in a combined on-chip RC environment

Dissipative properties of the electromagnetic environment as well as on-chip RC filtering are shown to suppress random state switchings in the two-junction superconductor(S) - normal metal(N) electron trap. In our experiments, a local high-ohmic resistor increased the hold time of the trap by up to two orders of magnitude. A strong effect of on-chip noise filtering was observed for different on-chip geometries. The obtained results are promising for realization of the current standard on the basis of the S-N hybrid turnstile.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures LT2

Single-charge escape processes through a hybrid turnstile in a dissipative environment

We have investigated the static, charge-trapping properties of a hybrid superconductor---normal metal electron turnstile embedded into a high-ohmic environment. The device includes a local Cr resistor on one side of the turnstile, and a superconducting trapping island on the other side. The electron hold times, t ~ 2-20s, in our two-junction circuit are comparable with those of typical multi-junction, N >= 4, normal-metal single-electron tunneling devices. A semi-phenomenological model of the environmental activation of tunneling is applied for the analysis of the switching statistics. The experimental results are promising for electrical metrology.Comment: Submitted to New Journal of Physics 201

Nonideal quantum detectors in Bayesian formalism

The Bayesian formalism for a continuous measurement of solid-state qubits is derived for a model which takes into account several factors of the detector nonideality. In particular, we consider additional classical output and backaction noises (with finite correlation), together with quantum-limited output and backaction noises, and take into account possible asymmetry of the detector coupling. The formalism is first derived for a single qubit and then generalized to the measurement of entangled qubits.Comment: 10 page

Numerical analysis of the radio-frequency single-electron transistor operation

We have analyzed numerically the response and noise-limited charge sensitivity of a radio-frequency single-electron transistor (RF-SET) in a non-superconducting state using the orthodox theory. In particular, we have studied the performance dependence on the quality factor Q of the tank circuit for Q both below and above the value corresponding to the impedance matching between the coaxial cable and SET.Comment: 14 page

Selective quantum evolution of a qubit state due to continuous measurement

We consider a two-level quantum system (qubit) which is continuously measured by a detector. The information provided by the detector is taken into account to describe the evolution during a particular realization of measurement process. We discuss the Bayesian formalism for such ``selective'' evolution of an individual qubit and apply it to several solid-state setups. In particular, we show how to suppress the qubit decoherence using continuous measurement and the feedback loop.Comment: 15 pages (including 9 figures

Measurement of b Quark Fragmentation Fractions in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV

We have studied the production of B hadrons in 1.8-TeV p-pbar collisions. We present measurements of the fragmentation fractions, f_u, f_d, f_s and f_baryon, of produced b quarks that yield B^+, B^0, B^0_s and Lambda_b hadrons. Reconstruction of several electron-charm final states yields f_s/(f_u+f_d)=0.213+/-0.068 and f_baryon/(f_u+f_d)=0.118+/-0.042, assuming f_u=f_d. If all B hadrons produced in p-pbar collisions cascade to one of these four hadrons, we determine f_u=f_d=0.375+/-0.023, f_s=0.160+/-0.044 and f_baryon=0.090+/-0.029. If we do not assume f_u=f_d, we find f_d/f_u=0.84+/-0.16.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. Submitted to Physical Review Letter