Superconducting Parametric Amplifier for Astronomy and Quantum Computing

用于天文学和量子计算的超导参量放大器

• 批准号: 2285266
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2285266
• 关键词: Superconducting; Parametric; Amplifier; Astronomy; Quantum

The emergence of a new type of amplifier technology, the superconducting parametric amplifiers (SPAs), had drawn considerable attention from the astronomical and quantum computing communities. This is because SPAs can achieve quantum-limited sensitivity over a very broad bandwidth. They are compact, easy to fabricate with planar circuit technology, have ultra-low heat dissipation, and can be integrated directly with other detector circuits. Their performance is far superior to the state-of-the-art cryogenic low noise amplifier used currently in astronomy and quantum computing experiments. These devices therefore can revolutionise ultra-sensitive instrumentation in astronomy and quantum information technologies, from microwave to sub-millimetre (sub-mm) wavelengths. In particular, they can be used as readout amplifiers to improve the heterodyne receiver sensitivity significantly, and enable the construction of large bolometric arrays as a result of the negligible dissipation. It will have a huge impact in mm/sub-mm astronomy & B-mode CMB experiments which study the origin of the Universe and the stars/planet formation that is in line with STFC's core programme.Their large bandwidth, high power handling and quantum-limited noise performance will have profound effect on quantum computing architecture and improve the fidelity to process hundreds of quantum bits (qubit). This will open up the real possibility of building a practical quantum computer, an active research area where UKRI have invested heavily on through the UK National Quantum Technology Programme.The aim of this student project is to develop a quantum-limited SPA at microwave frequencies, replacing the traditional semiconductor amplifiers which are power hungry with substantial heat generation. Most importantly, these semiconductor amplifiers are unable to achieve the quantum limited sensitivity required in many advance applications. In this project, the student will study the theoretical background and develop his own simulation code to model the SPA, along with learning to use commercial electromagnetism software to design the amplifiers. The student will then have the chance to get involve in the fabrication of the devices using state-of-the-art clean room facilities, either here in Oxford, or with our other collaborators (Observatory of Paris). The student will also learn how to use sub-Kelvin cryogenics system and other experimental techniques, for measuring the performance of the amplifiers. In particular, the student will investigate the amplifier sensitivity and gain dependence on bath the temperature and on the losses of superconducting materials. Finally, the student will integrate the amplifier into an existing astronomical receiver/quantum computing receiver and assess the impact on the receiver performance.Apart from academic research, SPA technology will have great potential to provide solutions for commercial applications such as 4/5G telecommunication, satellite systems, quantum information technology and biochemistry/pharmaceutical industries as well. The low power requirement and heat dissipation of the SPA will allow the construction of large pixel-count instrument with wide field and fast mapping. This is important for satellite communication systems that have limited power and cooling capability. They are important for 4/5G telecommunication, where discussions have already begun to develop 6G systems to achieve several TB/s with link operating at 30-100 GHz, providing better quality and higher speed internet to end users. It is beneficial for biochemistry and pharmaceutical research, where the wealth of chemistry lines in this region will allow probing of complex biology and chemistry behaviour in many systems, potentially finding new drugs and solution for medical issues such as cancer treatment. There are already many UK companies such as ETL and Oxford Instrument that have express intense interest in this field.

一种新型放大器技术--超导参量放大器（SPAs）的出现，引起了天文学和量子计算界的极大关注。这是因为SPA可以在非常宽的带宽上实现量子限制的灵敏度。它们结构紧凑，易于使用平面电路技术制造，具有超低散热性，并且可以直接与其他检测器电路集成。它们的性能远远上级目前在天文学和量子计算实验中使用的最先进的低温低噪声放大器。因此，这些设备可以彻底改变天文学和量子信息技术中的超灵敏仪器，从微波到亚毫米（sub-mm）波长。特别是，它们可以被用作读出放大器，以提高外差接收机的灵敏度显着，并使大的辐射热阵列的建设作为一个可以忽略不计的耗散的结果。它将在毫米/亚毫米天文学和B模式CMB实验中产生巨大影响，这些实验研究宇宙起源和恒星/行星形成，符合STFC的核心计划。它们的大带宽，高功率处理和量子限制噪声性能将对量子计算架构产生深远影响，并提高处理数百个量子比特（qubit）的保真度。这将开启建造实用量子计算机的真实的可能性，这是UKRI通过英国国家量子技术计划投入巨资的一个活跃研究领域。这个学生项目的目的是开发微波频率的量子限制SPA，取代传统的半导体放大器，这些放大器需要大量的热量。最重要的是，这些半导体放大器无法实现许多先进应用中所需的量子极限灵敏度。在这个项目中，学生将学习理论背景和开发自己的模拟代码来模拟SPA，沿着学习使用商业电磁软件来设计放大器。然后，学生将有机会使用最先进的洁净室设施参与设备的制造，无论是在牛津，还是与我们的其他合作者（巴黎天文台）。学生还将学习如何使用亚开尔文低温系统和其他实验技术，用于测量放大器的性能。特别是，学生将研究放大器的灵敏度和增益对温度和超导材料损耗的依赖性。最后，学生将把放大器集成到现有的天文接收机/量子计算接收机中，并评估对接收机性能的影响。除了学术研究，SPA技术还将为商业应用提供巨大的潜力，例如4/5G电信，卫星系统，量子信息技术和生物化学/制药行业。SPA的低功耗要求和散热将允许构建具有宽视场和快速映射的大像素计数仪器。这对于具有有限功率和冷却能力的卫星通信系统是重要的。它们对于4/5G电信非常重要，其中已经开始讨论开发6 G系统，以实现几TB/s的链路，在30-100 GHz下运行，为最终用户提供更好的质量和更高的速度互联网。这对生物化学和药物研究是有益的，该地区丰富的化学系将允许在许多系统中探索复杂的生物学和化学行为，可能会发现新的药物和解决癌症治疗等医疗问题的方法。已经有许多英国公司，如ETL和牛津仪器，对这一领域表示出浓厚的兴趣。