Quantum scientists around the world are trying to improve quantum computers to make them more reliableand powerful. The German start-up eleQtron sells groundbreaking quantum computers using microwave radiation instead of lasers to control the individual trapped ion qubits, which leads to a simpler design and much less cooling and power consumption. This big step is possible with Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG) from Spectrum Instrumentation using advanced Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology with up to 20 sine wave carriers per output to perform the quantum operations
The company eleQtron, a spin-off from the University of Siegen, recently delivered a quantum computer that implements their patented MAGIC (MAgnetic Gradient Induced Coupling) quantum processors. MAGIC differentiates from other quantum processor designs by using microwave radiation, instead of lasers, to control and manipulate the qubits.
Laser ablation is used initially in a high vacuum to create a string of Ytterbium (171Yb+) ions. This process can build a string of up to 30 ions in a single register, each one functioning as a qubit. Key to implementing quantum algorithms is the use of a magnetic field and an oscillating electric field to generate a Paul trap(quadrapole ion trap). Many designs use a laser at this stage to control and manipulate the qubits, preparingthem to execute quantum gates. Such lasers, however, must be exceptionally accurate in targeting each ionindividually and have high power requirements.
By comparison, microwaves are technically simpler and require around one-fifth of the power. A high-frequency oscillator source and the output of Spectrum’s DDS card are combined using a single sideband(SSB) mixer, generating a signal around 12.64 GHz. Thanks to the Zeeman effect resulting from the magnetic field, each ion can be “addressed” by modulating the signal in deltas of 3 to 5 MHz which offers low crosstalk and integrates nicely to chip based ion traps. The DDS card generates the multi-tone signal that is needed to implement individual control and manipulation of the qubits.
The eleQtron scientists reached out to Spectrum Instrumentation when they hit the limits of their existing AWG hardware. The signals generated have to be modified in amplitude, phase offset, pulse length, and frequency in order to correctly control each qubit. This helps achieve the desired Rabi frequency thatdetermines the speed of quantum operations. But such requirements place significant demands on the Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG).
The eleQtron team was recommended the M4i.66xx-series of 16 bit AWGs, a well-known instrument line in the community of quantum researchers worldwide. These PCIe cards can offers one, two, or four synchronous channels with up to 1.25 GS/s output rate, and a large onboard memory that can be segmentedto replay different waveforms. With Spectrum’s optimized drivers, data transfer rates of 2.8 GB/s areattainable, and up to eight cards can be synchronized if needed. With the additional DDS firmware, the outputs allow up to 20 sine wave cores on one channel. Each DDS core can be programmed for frequency,amplitude, phase, frequency slope and amplitude slope with just a few commands, which leads to ultrafastchanges on the sine wave cores with a resolution of 6.4 ns. This helps to address more qubits and enablesthe flexibility in quantum processor design which is needed to implement more complex quantum circuits. For the eleQtron team, the DDS solution was the key for their concept. They also reported about the outstandingsupport they got from Spectrum, from the quality of the documentation to the rapid response by the design engineers themselves.
About Spectrum Instrumentation Spectrum Instrumentation, founded in 1989, uses a unique modular concept to design and produce a wide
range of more than 200 digitizers and generator products as PC-cards (PCIe and PXIe) and stand-alone Ethernet units (LXI). In over 35 years, Spectrum has gained customers all around the world, including manyA-brand industry-leaders and practically all prestigious universities. The company is headquartered near Hamburg, Germany, known for its 5-year warranty and outstanding support that comes directly from thedesign engineers. More information about Spectrum can be found at www.spectrum-instrumentation.com
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