Quantum Computing Technologies

Pol Forn-Díaz


The QCT group develops superconducting circuits for applications in quantum computation. By employing Josephson-junction technology, the group engineers superconducting qubits for the implementetion of quantum algorithms. Part of the research is focused on improving the qubit quality by mitigation of environmental noise sources, while at the same time the circuits are used to investigate fundamental physics of quantum optics phenomena.

2024 Activities

-Completed European project FET-Open AVaQus, coordinated by IFAE and involving a total of 8 partners, 5 in academia and 3 startups. The final results of the project were the production of a 3-qubit analog quantum device that can operate as a programmable 2-qubit quantum annealer. Several new algorithms to be executed on a quantum annealer or a quantum simulator were produced.

-Completed European project Quantera SiUCs, coordinated by IFAE and involving a total of 6 partners. The final results of the project were the demonstration of the use of ultrastrong light-matter couplings to observe physics corresponding to other models, such as quantum optics or condensed-matter physics. Also novel superinductors were produced, including the one developed at IFAE with nitridized aluminum. Finally, a new loss mechanism was identified in superinductors made out of disordered superconductors that requires further investigation in future projects.

-First fully working superconducting flux qubit fabricated in-house. Previously all devices measured had been fully or partially fabricated at foreign laboratories. The present device has been fabricated between CNM and IFAE. This device, fabricated by Alba Torras Coloma from the QCT group contains a flux qubit connected to a superconducting resonator. The goal of the device is to observe physics of qubit-photon interactions in the ultrastrong coupling regime. For that reason the device contains granular aluminum as a method to couple both systems.