Filter-aware voltage signal sequence determination for transmission operation.

Abstract

The controller is configured to control operation of a containment device including one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes. The controller includes a processing element and a non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon. When executed by the processing element, the computer-executable instructions are configured to at least cause the controller to identify a manipulable object transmission operation to be performed, retrieve a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation from a voltage signal sequence library, and cause one or more voltage sources to apply, via respective filters, each of the voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to each of the plurality of control electrodes. The set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on a respective filter response of each of the respective filters.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 18 / 495,928, filed October 27, 2023, which claims priority to U.S. Application No. 63 / 383,606, filed November 14, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Various embodiments relate to determining and using a set of voltage signal sequences for transmitting one or more manipulable objects from a start position to a destination position of a containment device. For example, one exemplary embodiment relates to determining and using a set of voltage signal sequences, where determining the set of voltage signal sequences involves knowing a filter response of a filter used to filter voltage signals applied to control electrodes based at least in part on the set of voltage signal sequences. [Background technology]

[0003] Voltage signals applied to the electrodes of an ion trap are often filtered to reduce the effect of noise in the voltage signal on ions confined by the ion trap. However, such filtering can degrade the effectiveness of the applied voltage signal to perform its desired function. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of the shortcomings of prior systems have been overcome by developing a structured solution in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, many examples of which are described in detail herein. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Exemplary embodiments provide a method, system, device, computer program product, controller, etc. configured to control operation of a containment device for determining and using a set of voltage signal sequences, where determining the set of voltage signal sequences takes into account a response of a filter used to filter voltage signals applied to control electrodes of the containment device. For example, the set of voltage signal sequences may be determined to cause one or more manipulable objects confined by the containment device to be transported from a start position of the containment device to a destination position of the containment device based at least in part on a filter response of a filter used to filter voltages applied to control electrodes of the containment device.

[0005] According to a first aspect, there is provided a controller configured to control operation of a containment device including one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller includes a processing element, at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, and a voltage signal sequence library. The computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are configured to at least: identify a manipulable object transmission operation to be performed; retrieve from the voltage signal sequence library a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to be performed; and cause one or more voltage sources to apply, via respective filters, each of the set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to each of the plurality of control electrodes. The set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on a respective filter response of each of the respective filters.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals, each voltage signal corresponding to one time step of a plurality of time steps of a manipulable object transmission operation.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage signals for each time step of the plurality of time steps of the set of voltage signal sequences are determined synchronously.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the controller to at least smoothly transition the applied voltage signal from the i-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i-th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i+1-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i+1-th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, each transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the start position and at the destination position.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, each filter is a low-pass filter.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the respective filter responses is determined empirically.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on device and transmission requirements.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same energy respective motional state at both the respective start positions and the respective destination positions.

[0015] According to another aspect, a system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a containment device including one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes, a plurality of voltage sources, and a plurality of filters. Each voltage source of the plurality of voltage sources is configured to generate a voltage signal and provide the voltage signal to a respective filter of the plurality of filters. Each filter is configured to generate a respective filtered voltage signal and provide the respective filtered voltage signal to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes. The system further includes a controller configured to control operation of at least the containment device and the plurality of voltage sources. The controller includes a processing element, at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, and a voltage signal sequence library. When executed by the processing element, the computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the controller to at least identify a manipulable object transmission operation to be performed, retrieve a set of voltage signal sequences from the voltage signal sequence library corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to be performed, and apply each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to each control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes via a respective filter. The set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on the respective filter responses of the respective filters.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals, each voltage signal corresponding to one time step of a plurality of time steps of a manipulable object transmission operation.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage signals for each time step of the plurality of time steps of the set of voltage signal sequences are determined synchronously.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the controller to at least smoothly transition the applied voltage signal from the i-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i-th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i+1-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i+1-th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, each transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the one or more respective start positions and at the one or more respective destination positions.

[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0021] In one exemplary embodiment, each filter is a low-pass filter.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the respective filter responses is determined empirically.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on device and transmission requirements.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same respective energy states of motion at both the respective start positions and the respective destination positions.

[0025] According to yet another aspect, a method is provided that is implemented by a controller configured to control operation of one or more voltage sources. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more voltage signals are configured such that respective filters are operable to generate respective filtered voltage signals and provide the respective voltage signals to respective control electrodes of a containment device. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes identifying a manipulable object transmission operation to be performed, obtaining a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to be performed from a voltage signal sequence library, and causing one or more voltage sources to apply, via the respective filters, respective voltage signal sequences of the set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to respective control electrodes of a plurality of control electrodes (e.g., controlling operation of the one or more voltage sources in this manner). The set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on the respective filter responses of the respective filters.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals, each voltage signal corresponding to one time step of a plurality of time steps of a manipulable object transmission operation.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage signals for each time step of the plurality of time steps of the set of voltage signal sequences are determined synchronously.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes smoothly transitioning the applied voltage signal from the i-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i-th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i+1-th voltage signal of the sequence of voltage signals corresponding to the i+1-th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, each transmission profile having first and second derivatives equal to zero at the one or more respective start positions and at the one or more respective destination positions.

[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, each filter is a low-pass filter.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the respective filter responses is determined empirically.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on device and transmission requirements.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same respective energy states of motion at both the respective start positions and the respective destination positions.

[0035] According to yet another aspect, a computer-implementable method is provided for determining a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to manipulable object transmission operations to be performed within a containment region defined by a containment device including one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes. The method includes obtaining filter response representations for one or more filters configured to filter respective voltage signals applied to respective control electrodes of the plurality of control electrodes, obtaining device and transmission requirement representations, the device and transmission requirement representations encoding at least a relative physical layout of the plurality of control electrodes, and synchronously determining, based at least in part on the filter response representations and the device and transmission requirement representations, a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to transmission of one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of the containment device to one or more respective destination positions of the containment device over a period of time. Each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals to be applied to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes via a respective filter of the one or more filters over a plurality of time steps of the time period.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes storing the set of voltage signal sequences in a voltage signal sequence library accessible to a controller configured to control operation of the containment device.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to transmit from one or more respective start positions to one or more respective destination positions, each transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the respective start positions and at the respective destination positions.

[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0039] In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more filters include a low pass filter.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the filter response representations is determined by empirically measuring the filter response of each filter and converting the filter response to the filter response representation.

[0041] In an example embodiment, the filter response representation links the i+1 th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same respective energy states of motion at both the respective start positions and the respective destination positions.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes obtaining lower and upper bound representations, the lower and upper bound representations and the device and transmission requirement representations constraining an available solution space within which the set of voltage signal sequences is determined.

[0044] According to another aspect, an apparatus configured to determine a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to manipulable object transmission operations to be performed within a containment region defined by a containment device comprising one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a processing element and at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processing element, cause the apparatus to at least: obtain a filter response representation for one or more filters configured to filter respective voltage signals applied to respective control electrodes of the plurality of control electrodes; obtain a device and transmission requirement representation, the device and transmission requirement representation encoding at least a relative physical layout of the plurality of control electrodes; and synchronously determine, based at least in part on the filter response representation and the device and transmission requirement representation, a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to transmission of one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of the containment device comprising the plurality of control electrodes to one or more respective destination positions of the containment device over a period of time. Each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals to be applied to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes through a respective filter of the one or more filters over a plurality of time steps of the time period.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the apparatus to store the set of voltage signal sequences in a voltage signal sequence library accessible to a controller configured to control operation of the containment device.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions to one or more respective destination positions, the transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the start positions and at the destination positions.

[0047] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more filters include a low pass filter.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the filter response representations is determined by empirically measuring the filter response of each filter and converting the filter response to the filter response representation.

[0050] In an example embodiment, the filter response representation links the i+1 th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more starting positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same energy respective motional state at both the one or more respective starting positions and the one or more respective destination positions.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the device to obtain lower and upper bound representations, wherein the lower and upper bound representations and the device and transmission requirement representations constrain an available solution space within which the set of voltage signal sequences is determined.

[0053] According to yet another aspect, a computer program product is provided that is configured to cause an apparatus to determine a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to manipulable object transmission operations to be performed within a containment region defined by a containment device comprising one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes. In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program product includes at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing element of the apparatus, configures the apparatus to at least: obtain a filter response representation for one or more filters configured to filter respective voltage signals applied to respective control electrodes of the plurality of control electrodes; obtain a device and transmission requirement representation, the device and transmission requirement representation encoding at least a relative physical layout of the plurality of control electrodes; and synchronously determine, based at least in part on the filter response representation and the device and transmission requirement representation, a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to transmission of one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of the containment device comprising the plurality of control electrodes to one or more respective destination positions of the containment device over a period of time. Each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals to be applied to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes through a respective filter of the one or more filters at a plurality of time steps over a time period.

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the device to store the set of voltage signal sequences in a voltage signal sequence library accessible to a controller configured to control operation of the containment device.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions to one or more respective destination positions, the transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the one or more respective start positions and at the one or more respective destination positions.

[0056] In one exemplary embodiment, each transmission profile is a sigmoid function.

[0057] In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more filters include a low pass filter.

[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the filter response representations is determined by empirically measuring the filter response of each filter and converting the filter response to the filter response representation.

[0059] In an example embodiment, the filter response representation links the i+1 th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i th time step of the plurality of time steps.

[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, the one or more manipulable objects being in the same respective energy states of motion at both the one or more respective start positions and the one or more respective destination positions.

[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, are further configured to cause the device to obtain lower and upper bound representations, wherein the lower and upper bound representations and the device and transmission requirement representations constrain an available solution space within which the set of voltage signal sequences is determined.

[0062] Having thus generally described the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0063] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example system including a controller configured to control operation of a containment device, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an exemplary top view of a portion of an exemplary containment device, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3] 9 is a flowchart illustrating various processes, operations, and / or procedures performed by a computing entity, such as the computing entity of FIG. 8, to generate and / or determine a set of voltage signal sequences, according to various embodiments. [Figure 4] 9 is a flowchart illustrating various processes, operations, and / or procedures performed by a computing entity, such as the computing entity of FIG. 8, to generate and / or determine and store filter response representations, according to various embodiments. [Figure 5] 1 is a plot illustrating an exemplary transmission profile in accordance with various embodiments. [Figure 6] 8 is a flow chart illustrating various processes, operations, and / or procedures performed by a controller configured to control operation of a confinement device, such as the controller of FIG. 7 , to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the confinement device to one or more respective destination positions of the confinement device using a set of voltage signal sequences, according to various embodiments. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example controller configured to control the operation of a containment device, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 8]1 is a schematic diagram of an example computing entity that may be used in accordance with certain example embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] The present inventions will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, of the inventions are shown. Indeed, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. The term "or" (also indicated as " / ") is used herein in both its alternative and conjunctive sense, unless otherwise specified. The terms "illustrative" and "exemplary" are used as examples without any indication of quality level. The terms "generally," "substantially," and "approximately" refer to within engineering and / or manufacturing tolerances and / or within the user's measurement capabilities, unless otherwise specified. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0065] Exemplary embodiments provide methods, systems, devices, computer program products, controllers configured to control operation of a confinement device, atomic systems, and / or quantum processors, etc., for determining and using a set of voltage signal sequences, where the determination of the set of voltage signal sequences takes into account the filter response of a filter used to filter voltage signals applied to a control electrode of the confinement device. For example, the set of voltage signal sequences may be determined to transmit one or more manipulable objects confined by the confinement device from one or more respective start positions of the confinement device to one or more respective destination positions of the confinement device based at least in part on the filter response of the filter used to filter voltages applied to the control electrode of the confinement device. In various embodiments, the confinement device is an ion trap. In various embodiments, the manipulable objects are neutral or ionic atoms; neutral, multipole, or charged molecules; charged particles; quantum particles; quantum dots, etc., and / or groups or crystals thereof.

[0066] Exemplary System Architecture 1 illustrates an exemplary system in which a containment device 120 is used to contain a manipulable object so that various functions can be performed on the manipulable object. For example, in various embodiments, the containment device 120 is an ion trap or the like. For example, in various embodiments, the manipulable object is a neutral or ionic atom; a neutral, multipolar, or charged molecule; a charged particle; a quantum particle; a quantum dot; or the like, and / or groups or crystals thereof. Various functions can be performed on the manipulable object, such as quantum state preparation, logic gate execution, state readout / determination, cooling, and transmission between different locations of the containment device 120.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment of a system including confinement device 120, the system is a quantum computing system 100 based on a quantum charge-coupled device (QCCD) architecture. In the illustrated embodiment, quantum computing system 100 comprises computing entity 10 and quantum computer 110. In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 comprises quantum system controller 30 and quantum processor 115. In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 is configured and / or programmed to control quantum processor 115 and / or its various components. For example, quantum processor 115 comprises confinement device 120 configured to confine multiple manipulable objects. Quantum system controller 30 is configured to control the operation of confinement device 120. In an exemplary embodiment, quantum processor 115 comprises multiple qubits (e.g., data qubits that may be organized into logical qubits, ancilla qubits, etc.). In various embodiments, each qubit of the multiple qubits may be embodied by a respective manipulable object of the multiple manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120. In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 includes or communicates with a database (not shown), such as a voltage signal sequence library. For example, the database may be stored by one or more computing entities 10 in communication with controller 30 over one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20, and / or may be stored by memory local to controller 30.

[0068] In various embodiments, quantum processor 115 comprises means for controlling the evolution of the quantum states of qubits. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, quantum processor 115 comprises a cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 enclosing confinement device 120 (e.g., an ion trap, etc.), one or more manipulation sources 60, one or more voltage sources 50, and / or one or more optics collection systems 70. For example, cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40 may be a temperature- and / or pressure-controlled chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more manipulation sources 60 may include one or more lasers (e.g., optical lasers, microwave sources, etc.). In various embodiments, one or more manipulation sources 60 are configured to manipulate and / or induce controlled quantum state evolution of one or more manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120. In various embodiments, the manipulable objects within confinement device 120 (e.g., ions and / or ion crystals / clusters trapped within an ion trap) function as data qubits and / or ancilla qubits for quantum processor 115 of quantum computer 110. For example, in an exemplary embodiment in which one or more manipulation sources 60 comprise one or more lasers, the lasers may provide one or more laser beams to the manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120 within cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40. For example, manipulation source 60 may generate and / or provide laser beams configured to ionize the manipulable objects, initialize the manipulable objects within a defined two-state qubit space of the quantum processor, gate one or more qubits of the quantum processor, read the quantum state of one or more qubits of the quantum processor, etc.

[0069] In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 comprises an optical collection system 70 configured to collect and / or detect photons generated by the qubits (e.g., during a readout procedure). Optical collection system 70 may comprise one or more optical elements (e.g., lenses, mirrors, waveguides, fiber optic cables, reflective and / or transmissive metasurfaces) and one or more photodetectors. In various embodiments, the photodetectors may be photodiodes, photomultipliers, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors, and / or other photodetectors responsive to light at the expected fluorescence wavelengths of the qubits of quantum computer 110. In various embodiments, the detectors may be in electronic communication with quantum system controller 30, such as via one or more A / D converters 725 (see FIG. 7 ).

[0070] In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 includes one or more voltage sources 50. For example, voltage source 50 may include multiple voltage drivers and / or voltage sources and / or at least one RF driver and / or voltage source. For example, in various embodiments, voltage source 50 includes multiple arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), direct digital synthesizers (DDSs), etc. In an exemplary embodiment, voltage source 50 may be electrically coupled to corresponding potential-generating elements (e.g., electrodes) of containment device 120. In various embodiments, voltage signals generated by voltage source 50 are filtered by respective filters 55 prior to application of the voltage signals to the potential-generating elements. For example, in various embodiments, voltage source 50 is generated by controller 30 to generate voltage signal sequences that are filtered by respective filters 55 and applied to respective control electrodes of containment device 120 to generate one or more potential wells and / or potential surfaces.

[0071] In various embodiments, computing entity 10 is configured to allow a user to provide input to quantum computer 110 (e.g., via a user interface of computing entity 10) and receive, view, etc., output from quantum computer 110. Computing entity 10 may be in communication with quantum system controller 30 of quantum computer 110 via one or more wired or wireless networks 20 and / or via direct wired and / or wireless networks. In an exemplary embodiment, computing entity 10 may convert, configure, format, etc., information / data, quantum computing algorithms and / or circuits, etc., into a computer language, executable instructions, command set, etc. that quantum system controller 30 can understand and / or implement. For example, controller 30 is configured to generate machine-code level commands that, when executed by appropriate components of quantum computer 110, cause quantum computer 110 to execute a quantum circuit. In various embodiments, computing entity 10 may provide the quantum computing algorithms and / or circuits in a computer language that quantum system controller 30 decomposes into operations and / or individual or sets of machine-code level commands.

[0072] In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 is configured to control voltage source 50, a cryostat system and / or vacuum system controlling the temperature and pressure within cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, manipulation source 60, and / or other systems controlling various environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, etc.) within cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, and / or is configured to manipulate and / or cause the controlled evolution of the quantum states of one or more manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120 and used, for example, as qubits in quantum processor 115. For example, quantum system controller 30 may cause the controlled evolution of the quantum states of one or more manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120 to execute quantum circuits and / or algorithms. For example, quantum system controller 30 may cause a readout procedure, possibly including coherent shelving, to be performed as part of executing quantum circuits and / or algorithms. Additionally, quantum system controller 30 is configured to communicate and / or receive input data from optical collection system 70 and correspond to indications of the quantum states of qubits of quantum computer 110. In various embodiments, at least some of the manipulable objects confined within confinement device 120 are used as qubits of quantum computer 110.

[0073] 2 shows a top view of a portion of containment device 120. The shown portion of containment device 120 includes radio frequency (RF) rails 122A, 122B and three sequences of control electrodes 124A, 124B, 124C. Each sequence of control electrodes 124 includes multiple control electrodes 126. For example, the shown portion of the sequence of control electrodes 124C includes control electrodes 126A, 126B, ..., 126N.

[0074] In various embodiments, the RF voltage sources of voltage source 50 generate and provide respective RF voltage signals that are applied to RF rails 122A, 122B to generate pseudopotentials that define one or more linear confinement regions of confinement device 120. Manipulable objects confined by confinement device 120 are confined within the one or more linear confinement regions.

[0075] A manipulable object may be transmitted between different positions of the containment device 120 through application of a set of voltage signal sequences to the control electrodes 126. For example, the manipulable object 5 may be transmitted from a start position at position A to a destination position at position B of the containment device 120. Positions A and B are both defined in part by one or more sets of linear confinement regions. For example, positions A and B are each located within a respective linear confinement region. For example, the controller 30 may be configured to control the voltage source 50 to perform a transmission operation on the manipulable object (or a group of manipulable objects and / or a plurality of manipulable objects).

[0076] For example, controller 30 causes voltage source 50 to generate and provide a sequence of voltage signals. Each of the voltage signal sequences is filtered by a respective filter 55 and then applied (e.g., via a trace, lead, etc.) to a respective control electrode 126. In an exemplary embodiment, filter 55 is formed and / or disposed on the same chip and / or substrate as containment device 120. In an exemplary embodiment, filter 55 is formed and / or disposed separately from containment device 120 (e.g., outside of cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40).

[0077] In an exemplary embodiment, each filter 55 is configured to filter the voltage signal sequence applied to a respective control electrode 126. For example, filter 55 may include multiple filters, each filter corresponding to a respective control electrode 126. In various embodiments, filters 55 may be designed to have similar or different response functions, depending on the application.

[0078] Generally, the filters 55 are low-pass filters, band-pass filters, etc. configured to prevent high frequency noise in the voltage signal sequence from being applied to the respective control electrodes 126. However, this filtering may introduce changes into the voltage signal sequence that reduce the efficiency with which a transmission operation can be performed (e.g., via application of the filtered voltage signal sequence to the control electrodes 126).

[0079] One exemplary technique for determining a set of voltage signal sequences to use to perform a transmission operation involves optimizing, either through simulation or experimental measurement, a function whose input is the set of voltage signal sequences and whose output is some function of transmission time, manipulable object heating (e.g., caused by the transmission of the manipulable object), the difference between a desired final manipulable object configuration and an actual manipulable object configuration, etc. While desirable in many ways, this technique is expensive in terms of computational and / or experimental time. Rather than modeling or measuring the physical characteristics of one or more manipulable objects that move according to the potential of the containment device, a simpler and less expensive approach is to model only the potential and attempt to find a set of voltage signal sequences that result in time-dependent potentials that meet certain conditions expected to result in good transmission.

[0080] Such conventional approaches relied on solving a set of voltage signal sequences for each time step without considering the filter, and then, in some cases, “predistorting” the voltage signals to approximately reverse the action of the filter on the voltage signal sequences. However, these techniques result in a down-selection process that requires a significant number of user iterations to determine a usable set of voltage signal sequences. In addition, predistorting the voltage signals inherently introduces approximations into the system, which in turn can introduce statistical errors into the system. Thus, a technical problem exists as to how to determine a set of voltage signal sequences that enables efficient execution of each transmission operation in a user-time and computationally cost-effective manner.

[0081] Moreover, the transmission operation can be a significant source of manipulable object heating, which is generally undesirable. Thus, a further technical problem exists as to how to determine a set of voltage signal sequences that allows for efficient execution of the transmission operation with minimized and / or low manipulable object heating.

[0082] Various embodiments provide technical solutions to these technical problems. For example, in various embodiments, the filter response function of filter 55 is directly incorporated into the process of determining the voltage signal sequence. However, this couples the equations used in determining the voltage signal sequence at different time steps. For example, the filter response function of the filter i The filtered voltage signal sequence value at time t i-1The voltage signal sequence may depend on the voltage signal sequence in . Thus, in various embodiments, voltage signal sequence values ​​for multiple time steps are determined simultaneously and / or synchronously. In an exemplary embodiment, the problem of determining the voltage signal sequence is posed as a constrained least-squares fit, which can be posed and solved as a large multiple-time-step quadratic program (QP).

[0083] Exemplary Operation of Computing Entity 10 for Determining a Set of Voltage Signal Sequences In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 is configured to use multiple sets of voltage signal sequences, where each set of voltage signal sequences is configured to perform a particular transmission operation. For example, a first set of voltage signal sequences may be used to transmit manipulable object 5 from a start position at position A to a destination position at position B, and a second set of voltage signal sequences is used to transmit manipulable object 5 from position B to a third position (not shown).

[0084] In various embodiments, the set of voltage signal sequences is determined by a computing entity, such as, for example, computing entity 10. In various embodiments, the set of voltage signals is determined offline (e.g., not in real time with use of the set of voltage signals by quantum computer 110) and stored in memory accessible to a controller of the quantum computer (e.g., memory 710 of controller 30 as shown in FIG. 7 or memories 822, 824 of computing entity 10 as shown in FIG. 8). In an exemplary embodiment, the set of voltage signals is determined in real time by computing entity 10 and passed to controller 30 as needed.

[0085] In various embodiments, each set of voltage signal sequences corresponds to a transmit operation. In various embodiments, the transmit operation corresponding to a set of voltage signals may be defined by a start position and a destination position of the transmit operation. For example, if the filter responses of each of the filters 55 have significant variation, the set of voltage signal sequences may correspond to a particular start position and / or destination position. In various embodiments, the set of voltage signal sequences corresponds to the length of the transmit operation (e.g., the distance between the start position and the destination position of the transmit operation). For example, when the filters 55 have substantially matched filter responses, the set of voltage signal sequences may correspond to the length of the transmit operation. In another exemplary embodiment, when the filter responses of each of the filters 55 are substantially matched and / or substantially similar to each other, the set of voltage signal sequences corresponds to a motion primitive. For example, the motion primitive may be a certain type of transmit operation. For example, the transmit operations are classified by type (e.g., one step right, two steps left, etc.) that indicates a particular distance in a particular direction.

[0086] In various embodiments, the set of voltage signal sequences is:

number

number

number

number

number

[0087] In various embodiments, the filter representations are contained within the cost matrix A and / or the constraint matrix C. For example, for a row of either the cost matrix A and / or the constraint matrix C to operate on the filtered waveform, that row may be expressed as:

number

number

number

number

[0088] FIG. 3 provides a flow diagram illustrating various processes, procedures, operations, etc., performed by a standard computer such as computing entity 10 to determine, for example, a voltage signal sequence for use in performing a transmission operation of a manipulable object from a start position to a destination position of containment device 120.

[0089] Starting from step / operation 302, a filter response representation for filter 55 is obtained. For example, computing entity 10 may receive, determine, and / or access a filter response representation for filter 55 from memory. In various embodiments, the filter response representation is generated based at least in part on experimental measurements of the filter responses of one or more filters 55. In various embodiments, the filter response representation is generated based at least in part on simulation results of the filter responses of one or more filters 55.

[0090] In various embodiments, the filter response representation is generated based at least in part on converting empirically derived or simulated filter responses as a function of frequency (e.g., via a Fourier transform) to a function of time.

[0091] In one exemplary embodiment, the frequency response representation is a matrix model of the frequency response. In various embodiments, the filter response representation links one or more time steps of a sequence. For example, at time t i The filtered voltage signal generated by filter 55 that filters a voltage signal at time t may depend at least in part on the filtered voltage signal and / or the voltage signal at time t j where j < i (e.g., j may be equal to i - 1). Thus, the filter response representation can link various time steps such that the individual time steps of a set of voltage signal sequences cannot be determined independently and / or separately.

[0092] FIG. 4 provides a flowchart showing various processes, procedures, operations, etc. performed by computing entity 10 to obtain, for example, a filter response representation. For example, the processes, procedures, operations, etc. shown in FIG. 4 are performed as at least part of step / operation 302 in one exemplary embodiment.

[0093] 4 may be performed by each filter of filters 55. In various embodiments, one instance of performing the process, procedure, operation, etc. of FIG. 4 may be used to determine a filter response representation for each of two or more of filters 55.

[0094] Starting at step / act 402, computing entity 10 obtains measurements of filter responses for one or more filters 55. For example, processing element 808 (see FIG. 8 ) of computing entity 10 may receive empirical and / or simulated data (e.g., via network interface 820, receiver 806, a user input interface such as keyboard 818, etc.) and determine the frequency response for one or more filters 55 by analyzing the empirical and / or simulated data. In another exemplary embodiment, processing element 808 may receive filter responses for one or more filters 55 (e.g., via network interface 820, receiver 806, a user input interface such as keyboard 818, etc.) and / or access the filter responses for one or more filters 55 (e.g., from memory 822, 824).

[0095] In step / operation 404, the computing entity 10 converts the filter response into a filter response representation. For example, the processing element 808 of the computing entity 10 uses a Fourier transform to, for example, convert the filter response from the frequency domain to the time domain or vice versa, depending on the application. In various embodiments, the filter response is further converted into a filter response representation by generating a matrix representation of the filter response and / or its Fourier transform.

[0096] In one exemplary embodiment, the filter response is represented via a mathematical model with a small number of parameters, such as, for example, a 5-pole Butterworth filter with a cutoff frequency of 200 kHz. In such an embodiment, a filter response representation (in the form of a matrix) is generated based on the mathematical model and an interpolated representation of the waveform (e.g., a splined interpolated representation of the waveform).

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment, the filter transfer function is measured (e.g., in a laboratory). The filter transfer function is a description and / or representation of the filter as a function that multiplies the Fourier transform of the input signal to provide a representation of the filtered signal. In such an embodiment, the filter response representation (in the form of a matrix) is generated based on multiplying the Fourier transform of a set of voltage signal sequences by the measured filter transfer function (possibly using some interpolation between the measured values) and taking the inverse Fourier transform of the resulting product.

[0098] In step / operation 406, computing entity 10 stores and / or causes to be stored the filter response representations in a memory accessible to controller 30 (e.g., memory 710 of controller 30, or memories 822, 824 of computing entity 10). In various embodiments, the filter response representations are stored as part of a filter response representation database or other data store, with each filter response representation being indexed by an identifier to one or more of control electrodes 126, for which the filter response representation provides a representation of the respective filter response. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple filters 55 are designed to have substantially the same filter response, and the same filter response representation is associated with and / or assigned to each filter of the multiple filters.

[0099] 3 , in step / act 304, the lower and upper bounds are obtained. For example, computing entity 10 receives representations of lower and upper bound vectors l, u (e.g., via network interface 820, receiver 806, a user input interface such as keyboard 818, etc.). For example, computing entity 10 may access pre-defined lower and upper bound vectors l, u from memory (e.g., memories 822, 824).

[0100] In step / operation 306, equipment and transmission requirement representations are obtained. For example, computing entity 10 may obtain equipment requirements corresponding to constraints and / or costs of quantum computer 110. For example, the equipment requirements may relate to constraints on the operation of confinement device 120 so that confinement device 120 can confine the manipulable object, operational constraints on voltage source 50 (e.g., the voltage signal that voltage source 50 can generate, the update / slew rate at which the voltage source can operate, the achievable voltage signal change between adjacent updates, geometry information for each control electrode, the relative layout of control electrodes 126, etc.), constraints and / or costs imposed by filter 55 (e.g., as represented by a filter response representation), etc. For example, the transmission requirements may relate to constraints and / or costs on a desired transmission function to be performed. For example, the transmission requirements may include and / or be determined based on start and end points of the transmission operation, the distance over which the manipulable object should be transmitted, the number of manipulable objects to be transmitted together as part of the transmission operation, the transmission profile, etc.

[0101] In various embodiments, computing entity 10 may receive the device and transmission requirement representations (e.g., via network interface 820, receiver 806, a user input interface such as keyboard 818, etc.). In various embodiments, computing entity 10 may access the device and transmission requirement representations from a memory (e.g., memories 822, 824). In an exemplary embodiment, computing entity 10 may receive and / or access information from which one or more device and / or transmission requirement representations may be determined. For example, computing entity 10 may receive and / or access one or more filter response representations for one or more filters 55. Computing entity 10 may then apply the one or more filter response representations in determining at least one device and / or transmission requirement (e.g., device and / or transmission requirement corresponding to the shape of the electrical potential surface, etc.).

[0102] In various embodiments, computing entity 10 may receive and / or access a transmission profile and determine various transmission requirements based thereon. In various embodiments, a transmission profile is a description of how a potential well moves over time during a transmission operation. FIG. 5 illustrates a transmission profile from a starting position x0 at a start time t0=0 to a final time t f = Destination position x at T T 5 shows an exemplary transmission profile 500 corresponding to the transmission of a potential well (in which one or more manipulable objects 5 may be carried and / or in some cases cause the transmission of one or more manipulable objects 5) up to

[0103] In various embodiments, the transmission profile is continuous (e.g., does not contain any discontinuities). In various embodiments, the transmission profile does not have discontinuities in any derivative.

[0104] In various embodiments, one or more derivatives (with respect to time) of the transmission profile are equal to zero at the start time and at the final time. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the first and second derivatives of the transmission profile with respect to time are equal to zero. In an exemplary embodiment, each derivative (with respect to time) of the transmission profile (in any order) is equal to zero at the start time and at the final time.

[0105] In various embodiments, the transmission profile is a sigmoid function. For example, the transmission profile 500 shown is a sigmoid function from time t0=0 to t f = Function up to T

number

[0106] In certain exemplary embodiments, the transmission profile is configured to support transitionless transport. Transitionless transport occurs when (theoretically) the manipulable object does not heat up as a result of the transmission operation. As will be appreciated, imperfections in the design and / or operation of the containment device 120, voltage source 50, filter 55, etc. may result in some experiential heating of the manipulable object when the transmission operation is performed using transitionless transport. In various embodiments, the transmission profile is configured to support transitionless transport.

number

number

[0107] In various embodiments, computing entity 10 receives and / or accesses information corresponding to the device and / or transmission requirements, and then generates and / or determines the device and transmission requirement representations based thereon. In various embodiments, the device and transmission requirement representations are the cost matrix A and the constraint matrix C, which are part of the quadratic programming method described above.

[0108] Continuing with FIG. 3 , in step / operation 308, a set of voltage signal sequences for the transmit operation is determined. For example, computing entity 10 determines the set of voltage signal sequences for the transmit operation based at least in part on the lower and upper bound representations and the device and / or transmission requirements. As described above, in various embodiments, the device and / or transmission requirements are determined at least in part on the filter response representation for filter 55. Thus, the set of voltage signal sequences for the transmit operation is determined at least in part on the filter response representation of filter 55 configured to filter each voltage signal sequence applied to each control electrode 126 of confinement device 120 during performance of the transmit operation. In particular, all time steps of the set of voltage signal sequences are determined simultaneously and / or synchronously.

[0109] For example, in one exemplary embodiment, computing entity 10 may:

number

number

[0110] The set of voltage signal sequences is a set of time-ordered sequences of voltage signals, each sequence corresponding to a respective control electrode 126, and each voltage signal in each sequence corresponding to a respective time step of the transmission operation.

[0111] In step / operation 310, the set of voltage signal sequences is stored in a voltage signal sequence library. In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage signal sequence library is stored in a memory accessible to controller 30 (e.g., memory 710, memory 822, 824). For example, computing entity 10 may store the set of voltage signal sequences in a voltage signal sequence library in a memory accessible to controller 30 (e.g., memory 710, memory 822, 824). The set of voltage signal sequences may then be accessible for use by controller 30 for execution of one or more transmission operations.

[0112] As will be appreciated, the set of voltage signal sequences is specific to the containment device 120 (e.g., the layout and geometry of each control electrode 126) and the filter 55. Thus, determining the set of voltage signal sequences is specifically related to the hardware of the containment device 120 and the filter 55.

[0113] Exemplary Operations of a Controller for Performing a Transmission Operation In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 performs transmit operations by causing one or more manipulable objects to transmit from one or more respective start positions, as defined by confinement devices 120, to one or more respective destination positions, as defined by confinement devices 120. Specifically, controller 30 controls operation of voltage sources 50 such that a set of voltage signal sequences is generated by voltage sources 50, filtered by respective filters 55, and applied to respective control electrodes 126 of confinement devices 120 to perform the transmit operations. As described in more detail above, in various embodiments, the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on the filter responses of respective filters 55.

[0114] 6 provides a flow diagram illustrating various processes, procedures, actions, etc., performed by controller 30 to cause quantum computer 110 to perform a transmit operation. Beginning at step / action 602, controller 30 identifies a transmit operation to be performed. For example, controller 30 may determine a start location and / or destination location of the transmit operation to be performed, a start time or start time window within which the transmit operation should begin, etc.

[0115] In various embodiments, the transmit operation to be performed is identified based at least in part on the quantum circuit and / or algorithm being executed by quantum computer 110. For example, at the same time that controller 30 is controlling the operation of various components of quantum processor 115 to execute at least a portion of the quantum circuit and / or algorithm, controller 30 determines that a transmit operation should be performed as part of the execution of the quantum circuit and / or algorithm. Controller 30 may then identify the particular transmit operation to be performed based at least in part on the quantum circuit and / or algorithm.

[0116] In step / operation 604, controller 30 obtains a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the transmission operation. For example, controller 30 may access the set of voltage signal sequences from a library of voltage signal sequences stored in memory 710 and / or memories 822, 824. For example, controller 30 may read a file containing the set of voltage signal sequences formatted as a table or in another format. In an exemplary embodiment, controller 30 generates and provides a call from computing entity 10 requesting the set of voltage signal sequences and receives a call response including the set of voltage signal sequences. In an exemplary embodiment, controller 30 may determine the set of voltage signal sequences.

[0117] For example, controller 30 identifies a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the transmit operation. For example, controller 30 can query a voltage signal sequence library based on the start and / or destination positions of the transmit operation, the length of the transmit operation (e.g., the distance between the start and destination positions), and the motion primitive type (e.g., move one step right, move two steps left, etc.). The identified set of voltage signal sequences can then be accessed and / or read. As described above, the set of voltage signal sequences was determined at least in part based on and / or taking into account the filter response of filter 55. Thus, in various embodiments, it is not necessary to determine predistortion of the voltage signal sequences, and the approximations provided by such predistortion are therefore not introduced into the system.

[0118] In step / operation 606, controller 30 controls the operation of one or more voltage sources 50 to cause voltage sources 50 to generate and provide sequences of voltage signals indicated by a set of voltage signal sequences. For example, the set of voltage signal sequences may include voltages V a0 is applied to the first control electrode 126A at time t0, a1is applied to the first control electrode 126A at time t1, a2 is applied to the first control electrode 126A at time t2, b0 is applied to the second control electrode 126B at time t0, b1 is applied to the second control electrode 126B at time t1, b2 is applied to the second control electrode 126B at time t, and so on. Thus, at time t, the controller 30 may a0 , providing the voltage signals to respective filters 55 to generate first filtered voltage signals, and controlling voltage source 50 to apply the first filtered voltage signals to first control electrode 126A. Also, at time t0, controller 30 controls voltage V b0 , providing the voltage signals to respective filters 55 to generate second filtered voltage signals, and controlling voltage source 50 to apply the second filtered voltage signals to second control electrode 126B. Similarly, at time t1, controller 30 controls voltage source 50 to generate a voltage signal V a1 and V b1 , providing the voltage signals to respective filters 55 to generate first and second filtered voltage signals, and controlling the voltage sources to apply the first and second filtered voltage signals to respective ones of the first and second control electrodes 126A, 126B. The process continues at a final time step t f Following each time step, the final (filtered) voltage signal of the transmit operation is applied to the respective control electrode 126 until =T is reached.

[0119] In various embodiments, the controller 30 may i Each voltage signal applied to the control electrode 126 at time t i+1 For example, controller 30 may be configured to smoothly transition the voltage signal applied to control electrode 126 at time t i At voltage V i From time ti+1 At voltage V i+1 The operation of voltage source 50 may be controlled so that the applied voltage is changed in a smooth and / or continuous manner rather than jumping directly to . In other words, in various embodiments, the applied voltage is changed in a continuous and / or incremental manner rather than as a single step-by-step function. In one exemplary embodiment, filter 55 adjusts the applied voltage over time t i The voltage signal V i From time t i+1 Voltage V at i+1 The voltage change to the input may be configured to be smooth and / or continuous (eg, rather than as a single step function).

[0120] Exemplary Quantum System Controller In various embodiments, quantum computer 110 comprises quantum system controller 30 and quantum processor 115. Quantum system controller 30 is configured to control various components of quantum processor 115. For example, various embodiments are configured to perform one or more transmit operations. In various embodiments, the transmit operations cause the transmission of one or more manipulable objects from respective start locations to respective destination locations, where the start locations and destination locations are defined by confinement device 120 (e.g., within its one or more confinement regions).

[0121] In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 is in communication with voltage source 50, manipulation source 60, optical collection system 70, and / or other components of quantum processor 115 such that controller 30 is configured to control the operation of components of quantum processor 115 and / or receive sensor measurements captured thereby. In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 is further configured to control a cryostat system and / or vacuum system controlling the temperature and pressure within cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40, a refrigeration system, and / or other systems controlling environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) within cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 40.

[0122] 7, in various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 may comprise various quantum system controller elements, including processing element 705, memory 710, driver controller element 715, communication interface 720, analog-to-digital (A / D) converter element 725, etc. In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 is configured to receive input data generated by the optical collection system via A / D converter 725. In various embodiments, processing element 705 is configured to operate as described herein. In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 may include additional quantum system controller elements as described herein.

[0123] In various embodiments, processing elements 705 comprise processing devices such as programmable logic devices (PLDs), microprocessors, co-processing entities, application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs), integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), hardware accelerators, other processing elements and / or circuits. The term circuitry may refer to an overall hardware embodiment or a combination of hardware and a computer program product. In one exemplary embodiment, processing elements 705 of quantum system controller 30 comprise and / or are in communication with a clock.

[0124] In various embodiments, memory 710 includes non-transitory memory, such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory storage, such as one or more of a hard disk, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, register memory, etc. In various embodiments, memory 710 may store a voltage signal sequence library that stores multiple sets of voltage signal sequences for use in performing respective transmission operations, queues of commands to be executed (e.g., executable queues) to cause quantum algorithms and / or circuits to run, qubit records corresponding to qubits of a quantum computer (e.g., in a qubit record data store, a qubit record database, a qubit record table, etc.), calibration tables, computer program code (e.g., one or more computer languages, a dedicated quantum system controller language, etc.), etc. In an exemplary embodiment, execution of at least a portion of the computer program code stored in memory 710 (e.g., by processing element 705) causes quantum system controller 30 to perform one or more steps, operations, processes, procedures, etc. to generate one or more sets of commands configured to cause quantum processor 115 to execute at least a portion of a quantum circuit, update one or more qubit registries, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, execution of at least a portion of the computer program code stored in memory 710 causes quantum system controller 30 to execute the one or more commands. In various embodiments, the one or more commands include a command to cause voltage sources 50 to provide respective voltage signal sequences that are filtered by respective filters 55 and then applied to respective control electrodes 126 to perform a transmit operation.

[0125] In various embodiments, driver controller element 715 includes one or more driver and / or quantum system controller elements, each configured to control one or more drivers. In various embodiments, driver controller element 715 may comprise a driver and / or a driver controller. For example, a driver controller may be configured to operate one or more corresponding drivers according to executable instructions, commands, etc., generated, scheduled, and executed by quantum system controller 30. For example, processing element 705 may generate one or more commands to be executed by a first driver. For example, controller 30 may control the operation of one or more voltage sources 50 via one or more respective driver controller elements 715.

[0126] In various embodiments, driver controller element 715 enables quantum system controller 30 to operate voltage sources 50, manipulation sources 60, cooling systems, vacuum systems, etc. In various embodiments, the drivers may be laser drivers (e.g., configured to operate and / or control one or more manipulation sources 60); vacuum component drivers; drivers (e.g., configured to operate and / or control one or more voltage sources 50) for controlling the flow of current and / or voltage applied to electrodes used to maintain and / or control the trapping potential of confinement device 120 (and / or other drivers for providing driver action sequences to potential-generating elements of the confinement device); cryostat and / or vacuum system drivers; cooling system drivers, etc.

[0127] Each driver controller element 715, in one exemplary embodiment, corresponds to an endpoint in the system (e.g., a component of the manipulation source 60, a component of the voltage source 50 (such as a radio frequency voltage source, AWG, DDS, and / or other waveform generator), a component of the cooling and / or vacuum system, a component of the optical collection system 70, etc.). Each endpoint in quantum computer 110 represents individual hardware control. Each endpoint, in various embodiments, has its own set of accepted microcommands. Examples include, but are not limited to, the voltage source 50, such as a DDS or AWG, a component of the optical collection system 70, such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or other photodetector, a component of the manipulation source 60, such as a laser driver and / or optical modulator switch, and / or a general-purpose output (GPO). Individual commands to the DDS, AWG, or other waveform generator allow the power level, frequency, and / or phase of the voltage signal generated thereby to be set. Commands to the PMT or other photodetector interface, in various embodiments, include start / stop photon counting and resetting the count. Commands to a GPO endpoint include setting and / or clearing one or more output lines, which can be used to control external hardware in a manner synchronized with quantum circuit execution.

[0128] In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 comprises means for communicating and / or receiving signals from one or more optical receiver components (e.g., of optical collection system 70). For example, quantum system controller 30 may comprise one or more analog-to-digital (A / D) converter elements 725 configured to receive signals from one or more optical receiver components (e.g., photodetectors of optical collection system 70), calibration sensors, etc. In various embodiments, A / D converter elements 725 are configured to write input data generated by converting received signals generated by one or more optical receiver components of optical collection system 70 to memory 710.

[0129] In various embodiments, quantum system controller 30 may comprise a communications interface 720, e.g., for interfacing with and / or communicating with computing entity 10. For example, quantum system controller 30 may comprise a communications interface 720 for receiving executable instructions, command sets, etc. from computing entity 10, and for providing to computing entity 10 outputs received from quantum computer 110 (e.g., from optical collection system 70) and / or results of processing the outputs. In various embodiments, computing entity 10 and quantum system controller 30 may communicate via a direct wired and / or wireless connection, and / or via one or more wired and / or wireless networks 20.

[0130] Exemplary Computing Entity 8 provides an illustrative schematic diagram of an exemplary computing entity 10 that may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, computing entity 10 is a standard (e.g., semiconductor-based) computer configured to allow a user to provide input to quantum computer 110 (e.g., via a user interface of computing entity 10) and receive, display, analyze, etc., output from quantum computer 110.

[0131] 8 , computing entity 10 may include an antenna 812, a transmitter 804 (e.g., wireless), a receiver 806 (e.g., wireless), and a processing element 808 that provides signals to transmitter 804 and receives signals from receiver 806, respectively. The signals provided to transmitter 804 and received from receiver 806, respectively, may include signaling information / data in accordance with applicable wireless system air interface standards for communicating with various entities, such as quantum system controller 30, other computing entities 10, etc. Computing entity 10 may include a network interface 820 that can provide signals and receive signals in accordance with applicable network system interface standards for communicating with various entities, such as quantum system controller 30, other computing entities 10, etc.

[0132] In this regard, computing entity 10 may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. For example, computing entity 10 may be configured to receive and / or provide communications using a wired data transmission protocol, such as fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), digital subscriber line (DSL), Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay, data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS), or any other wired transmission protocol. Similarly, the computing entity 10 may be configured to support a variety of radio access technologies, including general packet radio service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), CDMA2000 1X (1xRTT), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Time-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and the like.The wireless communication device may be configured to communicate over a wireless external communications network using any of a variety of protocols, such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, 802.16 (WiMAX), ultra wideband (UWB), infrared (IR) protocol, near field communication (NFC) protocol, Wibree, Bluetooth protocol, wireless universal serial bus (USB) protocol, and / or any other wireless protocol. The computing entity 10 may use such protocols and standards to communicate with the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), HTTP over TLS / SSL / Secure, Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Telnet, Transport Layer Security (TLS), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), and the like.Communication may be performed using protocols such as the Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and HyperText Markup Language (HTML).

[0133] Through these communication standards and protocols, computing entity 10 may communicate with various other entities using concepts such as Unstructured Supplementary Service information / data (USSD), Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Dual-Tome Multi-Frequency Signaling (DTMF), and / or Subscriber Identity Module Dialer (SIM dialer). Computing entity 10 may also download modifications, add-ons, and updates to, for example, its firmware, software (including, e.g., executable instructions, applications, program modules), and operating system.

[0134] Computing entity 10 may comprise a user interface with one or more user input / output interfaces (e.g., a display 816 and / or speaker / speaker driver coupled to processing element 808, and a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, and / or microphone coupled to processing element 808). For example, the user output interface may be configured to provide an application, browser, user interface, interface, dashboard, screen, web page, page, and / or similar terms used interchangeably herein running on and / or accessible through one or more user input interfaces to cause a displayed or audible presentation of, and interaction with, information / data. The user input interface may comprise any of several devices that enable computing entity 10 to receive data, such as a keyboard / keypad 818 (hard or soft), a touch display, a voice / audio or motion interface, a scanner, reader, or other input device. In embodiments including a keyboard / keypad 818, the keyboard / keypad 818 may include (or display) conventional numeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), as well as other keys for operating computing entity 10, and may include a full set of alphabetic keys, or a set of keys that can be activated to provide a full set of alphanumeric keys. In addition to providing input, the user input interface may be used to activate or deactivate certain functions, such as, for example, a screen saver and / or sleep mode. Through such input, computing entity 10 may collect information / data, user interaction / input, etc.

[0135] Computing entity 10 may include volatile storage or memory 822 and / or non-volatile storage or memory 824, which may be embedded and / or removable. For example, non-volatile memory may be ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, MMC, SD memory card, memory stick, CBRAM, PRAM, FeRAM, RRAM, SONOS, racetrack memory, etc. Volatile memory may be RAM, DRAM, SRAM, FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, RDRAM, RIMM, DIMM, SIMM, VRAM, cache memory, registered memory, etc. Volatile and non-volatile storage or memory may store databases, database instances, database management system entities, data, applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, etc. for implementing the functions of computing entity 10.

[0136] conclusion

[0023] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions described herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 5 Manipulable Objects 10 Computing Entities 20 Wired and / or Wireless Networks 30 Quantum System Controller 40 Cryostat and / or vacuum chamber 50 Voltage Source 55 filters 60 Operation source 70 Optical Acquisition System 100 Quantum Computing System 110 Quantum Computer 115 Quantum Processor 120 Confinement Device 122A, 122B Radio Frequency (RF) Rails 124, 124A, 124B, 124C control electrodes 126, 126A, 126B, 126N control electrodes 500 Transmission file 705 Processing Elements 710 memory 715 Driver Controller Elements 720 Communication Interface 725 Analog-to-Digital (A / D) Converter 804 Transmitter 806 receiver 808 Processing Elements 812 Antenna 816 Display 818 keyboard 820 network interface 822 Volatile Memory 824 Non-volatile memory

Claims

1. a controller configured to control operation of a containment device comprising one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes, the controller comprising: a processing element, at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, and a voltage signal sequence library; The computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, cause the controller to at least: Identifying a manipulable object transfer operation to be performed; obtaining a set of voltage signal sequences from the voltage signal sequence library corresponding to the manipulable object transmission operation to be performed; causing one or more voltage sources to apply, via respective filters, respective voltage signal sequences of the set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to the manipulable object transmitting operations to respective control electrodes of the plurality of control electrodes; configured to cause the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on a respective filter response of the respective filter. controller.

2. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein each voltage signal sequence in the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals, each voltage signal corresponding to one time step of a plurality of time steps of the manipulable object transmission operation.

3. The controller of claim 2 , wherein a voltage signal for each time step of the plurality of time steps of the set of voltage signal sequences is determined synchronously.

4. The computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, cause the controller to at least: smoothly transitioning the applied voltage signal from the i-th voltage signal of the voltage signal sequence corresponding to the i-th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i+1-th voltage signal of the voltage signal sequence corresponding to the i+1-th time step of the plurality of time steps. The controller of claim 2 , further configured to:

5. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, each transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the one or more respective start positions and at the one or more respective destination positions.

6. 6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the respective transmission profiles are each a sigmoid function.

7. The controller of claim 1 , wherein each said filter is a low pass filter.

8. The controller of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the respective filter responses is determined empirically.

9. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the set of voltage signal sequences is determined based at least in part on device and transmission requirements.

10. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to transmit one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, and wherein the one or more manipulable objects are in the same energy respective states of motion at both the one or more respective start positions and the one or more respective destination positions.

11. 1. A computer-implementable method for determining a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to manipulable object transmission operations to be performed within a containment region defined by a containment device comprising one or more radio frequency rails and a plurality of control electrodes, the method comprising: obtaining a filter response representation for one or more filters configured to filter a respective voltage signal applied to each control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes; obtaining a device and transmission requirement representation, said device and transmission requirement representation encoding at least a relative physical layout of said plurality of control electrodes; synchronously determining, based at least in part on the filter response representation and the device and transmission requirement representation, a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to transmission of one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of the containment device to one or more respective destination positions of the containment device over a period of time, wherein each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals to be applied to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes through a respective filter of the one or more filters over a plurality of time steps of the time period; A method comprising:

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising storing the set of voltage signal sequences in a voltage signal sequence library accessible to a controller configured to control operation of the containment device.

13. 12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause the one or more manipulable objects to transmit from the one or more respective start positions to the one or more respective destination positions, each transmission profile having at least first and second derivatives equal to zero at the one or more start positions and at the one or more destination positions.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the respective transmission profiles are each a sigmoid function.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more filters are low-pass filters.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the filter response representations is determined by empirically measuring a filter response of the respective filter and converting the filter response to a filter response representation.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the filter response representation links the i+1 th time step of the plurality of time steps to the i th time step of the plurality of time steps.

18. 12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the set of voltage signal sequences is configured to cause the one or more manipulable objects to be transmitted from the one or more respective start positions of the manipulable object transmission operation to the one or more respective destination positions of the manipulable object transmission operation, and the one or more manipulable objects are in the same energy respective states of motion at both the one or more respective start positions and the one or more respective destination positions.

19. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining lower and upper bound representations, wherein the lower and upper bound representations and the equipment and transmission requirements representations constrain an available solution space within which the set of voltage signal sequences is determined.

20. 1. An apparatus comprising a processing element and at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processing element, causing the apparatus to perform at least: obtaining a filter response representation for one or more filters configured to filter a respective voltage signal applied to each of the plurality of control electrodes; obtaining an apparatus and transmission requirement representation, said apparatus and transmission requirement representation encoding at least a relative physical layout of said plurality of control electrodes; synchronously determining, based at least in part on the filter response representation and the device and transmission requirement representation, a set of voltage signal sequences corresponding to transmission of one or more manipulable objects from one or more respective start positions of a containment device comprising the plurality of control electrodes to one or more respective destination positions of the containment device over a period of time, wherein each voltage signal sequence of the set of voltage signal sequences is a time-ordered sequence of voltage signals to be applied to a respective control electrode of the plurality of control electrodes via a respective filter of the one or more filters over a plurality of time steps of the time period; An apparatus configured to cause

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