Antenna Chip Annealing for Localized Superconducting Qubits

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing qubit annealing technologies face challenges in performing scalable, efficient, and concurrent localized annealing of superconducting qubits without altering the existing quantum circuitry, leading to issues like frequency collisions and quantum cross-talk.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing antenna-based electromagnetic waves to thermally anneal qubits, leveraging existing quantum circuitry on the qubit chip, with precise positioning and gap sizing to independently and concurrently anneal multiple qubits, avoiding unwanted effects on neighboring qubits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If qubits are annealed using a dilution refrigerator system, then the qubit temperature can be reduced to near absolute zero, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequbit temperatureVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary antenna structure that couples the qubit to a thermal bath, enabling heat dissipation without requiring direct connection to complex dilution refrigerator systems. The antenna acts as a mediator that facilitates thermal management through electromagnetic coupling rather than direct thermal contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical dilution refrigerator system with an electromagnetic-based thermal management approach. Instead of using mechanical cryogenic systems to cool qubits, the invention uses electromagnetic fields and antenna structures to manage thermal energy, substituting a complex mechanical system with a more manageable electromagnetic field-based solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If qubits are annealed using a dilution refrigerator system, then the qubit temperature can be reduced to near absolute zero, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequbit temperatureVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna structure serves as an intermediary that enables thermal management through electromagnetic coupling, eliminating the need for expensive dilution refrigerator infrastructure. This approach significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to achieve low effective qubit temperatures through controlled electromagnetic interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple antenna structures that can be fabricated using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques, replacing expensive cryogenic infrastructure with inexpensive, easily manufacturable components. The antenna-based approach uses readily available materials and processes, making the system much more cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Temperature

If qubits are annealed using a dilution refrigerator system, then the qubit temperature can be reduced to near absolute zero, but the annealing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequbit temperatureVSAvoidannealing time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic electromagnetic signals applied to the antenna structure to facilitate rapid energy dissipation. By using oscillating fields at specific frequencies, the system can quickly drive the qubit through its annealing process, reducing the total time required compared to gradual thermal cooling in dilution refrigerators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The replacement of mechanical cryogenic cooling with electromagnetic field-based thermal management enables much faster annealing times. Electromagnetic interactions occur on timescales orders of magnitude faster than thermal diffusion in cryogenic systems, allowing rapid qubit preparation without the time constraints of mechanical cooling systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates independent and concurrent localized annealing of multiple qubits, reducing time and improving frequency allocation while minimizing quantum cross-talk, without the need for additional circuitry modifications.

Implementation Method 1

annealing qubits with an antenna chip... The antenna is configured to couple to the qubit and dissipate energy from the qubit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3844687B1Methods for annealing qubits with an antenna chip
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • EP3844687B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3844687B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3844687B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Systems, computer-implemented methods, and techniques facilitating antenna-based thermal annealing of qubits are provided. In one example, a first antenna can be positioned above a superconducting qubit chip having a first Josephson junction and a second Josephson junction. The first antenna can direct a first electromagnetic wave toward the first Josephson junction. A first length of a first defined vertical gap, between the first antenna and the superconducting qubit chip, can be sized to cause the first electromagnetic wave to circumscribe a first set of one or more capacitor pads of the first Josephson junction, thereby annealing the first Josephson junction, without annealing the second Josephson junction. In another example, the first length of the first defined vertical gap can be a function of a model of the first electromagnetic wave as a cone, wherein the cone originates from the first antenna and extends toward the superconducting qubit chip.