Superconducting Quantum Processors

by Dr Pol Forn-Diaz (BSC)

Monday 11 Mar 2019, 11:30 → 13:00 Europe/Madrid

IFAE Seminar Room

Most technological advances in the 20th century originated in scientific discoveries that changed our perception of nature. One of the most important of such discoveries was quantum mechanics, which permitted us to understand atoms and molecules and gave us a description of macroscopic systems such as metals and semiconductors. All those discoveries led to the appearance of devices such as the transistor and the laser which marked a technological revolution that explains our present society. The turn of the century witnessed a new wave of discoveries, both theoretical and experimental, which led to the control of quantum states of individual quantum systems. In this so-called second quantum revolution, we are witnessing the emergence of new technologies based on quantum coherence and quantum entanglement. In particular, quantum processors are the most representatives of these technologies, with the largest disruptive potential. 

In this talk, I will provide an overview of the current status of the field of quantum computing worldwide. I will particularly focus on the technology of superconducting qubits as being, so far, the most advanced, relevant, and promising. This technology is build on the physics of a superconducting circuit element known as the Josephson junction. Using its remarkable nonlinear and non-dissipative properties, devices behaving as artificial atoms are being designed, fabricated with a quantum state which is controllable, measurable, and long lived. The versatility of these circuits and their potential to scale up to devices of large size have boosted them to be serious contenders as building blocks of quantum computers and quantum annealers, with computational power beyond the capabilities of classical computers. 

IFAE_Colloquium copy.pdf