Reducing qubit energy decay and correlated errors from cosmic rays in quantum processors
US10998486B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2020 |
| Grant date | May 4, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N60/805
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Large algorithms can be run on a quantum computer only if quantum error correction is used to lower logical qubit errors. The energy deposited by cosmic-ray muons produces a quasiparticle “heat” pulse that causes the qubits to decay in energy quickly, with errors correlated in space and time, so that error correction fails. Metal layers comprising normal metal and/or small-gap superconductors channel this energy away from the qubit into benign structures so that qubit performance is not degraded. These structures are designed according to the electron-phonon interactions and constraints from electromagnetic radiation to make large reductions in the induced errors so that error correction works properly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.