Optical Qubit Drive Signals for Low-Heat Cryogenic Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The delivery of qubit drive signals between cryogenic and room temperature environments in quantum computers results in electrical losses and heating due to mechanical conduction, leading to insufficient signal quality for accurate qubit operations.
Innovation Solution
Conveying qubit drive signals as optical signals to a cryogenic environment and transducing them to radio frequency signals using optomechanical transducers, with optical isolators to manage energy dissipation and electro-optic modulators for signal modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If qubit drive signals are conveyed from room temperature to cryogenic environment using electrical conductors, then signal delivery is achieved, but electrical losses and heating occur due to mechanical conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical conductors with optical fibers to transmit drive signals to the cryogenic environment. Optical signals experience minimal electrical losses and do not conduct heat mechanically, thus resolving the contradiction between signal delivery and energy loss/heating. The optical-to-RF conversion is performed at the cryogenic end using optomechanical transducers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical fibers as an intermediary medium to carry signal information without direct electrical contact or thermal conduction. The optical signal serves as a mediator that transfers information from room temperature to cryogenic environment without the harmful thermal and electrical effects of direct electrical conductors.
2Loss of energy
If optical signals are used to convey qubit drive signals to cryogenic environment, then electrical losses and heating are reduced, but signal transduction to radio frequency is required at the cryogenic environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optomechanical transducers that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert optical signals directly to RF signals at the cryogenic environment. This substitution approach, while adding a transduction component, eliminates the need for long electrical conductors and associated loss mechanisms, achieving net system simplification despite the added conversion stage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple qubits are driven independently, then individual qubit control is achieved, but signal quality deteriorates due to cumulative electrical losses and thermal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple electrical conductor paths with a shared optical fiber infrastructure. Multiple RF signals are modulated onto optical carriers and transmitted through the same optical medium to the cryogenic environment, where they are converted to RF signals. This eliminates cumulative electrical losses and thermal noise while maintaining independent control of multiple qubits.
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
This approach achieves lossless or near lossless power conversion, reducing thermal noise and improving the scalability and quality of qubit driving signals in quantum computers.
Implementation Method 1
transducing the at least one optical signal to at least one radio frequency signal by at least one optomechanical transducer at the cryogenic environment of the quantum computer
Implementation Method 2
modulating the at least one optical signal with the at least one input radio frequency signal by at least one electro-optic modulator
Implementation Method 3
the at least one optical isolator is configured to dissipate energy received from the cryogenic environment
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to delivery of qubit drive signals to a cryogenic environment of a quantum computer. Qubit drive signal(s) may be conveyed to the cryogenic environment as optical signal(s). The optical signal(s) may be transduced to radio frequency signal(s) at the cryogenic environment for driving qubit(s). Apparatuses and methods are disclosed.