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Using Niobium surface encapsulation and Rhenium to enhance the coherence of superconducting devices
Title
Using Niobium surface encapsulation and Rhenium to enhance the coherence of superconducting devices
Creator
Crisa, Francesco
Date
2024
Description
In recent decades, the scientific community has grappled with escalating complexity, necessitating a more advanced tool capable of tackling...
Show moreIn recent decades, the scientific community has grappled with escalating complexity, necessitating a more advanced tool capable of tackling increasingly intricate simulations beyond the capabilities of classical computers. This tool, known as a quantum computer, features processors composed of individual units termed qubits. While various methods exist for constructing qubits, superconducting circuits have emerged as a leading approach, owing to their parallels with semiconductor technology.In recent years, significant strides have been made in optimizing the geometry and design of qubits. However, the current bottleneck in the performance of superconducting qubits lies in the presence of defects and impurities within the materials used. Niobium, owing to its desirable properties, such as high critical temperature and low kinetic inductance, stands out as the most prevalent superconducting material. Nonetheless, it is encumbered by a relatively thick oxide layer (approximately 5 nm) exhibiting three distinct oxidation states: NbO, NbO$_2$, and Nb$_2$O$_5$. The primary challenge with niobium lies in the multitude of defects localized within the highly disordered Nb$_2$O$_5$ layer and at the interfaces between the different oxides. In this study, I present an encapsulation strategy aimed at restraining surface oxide growth by depositing a thin layer (5 to 10 nm) of another material in vacuum atop the Nb thin film. This approach exploits the superconducting proximity effect, and it was successfully employed in the development of Josephson junction devices on Nb during the 1980s.In the past two years, tantalum and titanium nitride have emerged as promising alternative materials, with breakthrough qubit publications showcasing coherence times five to ten times superior to those achieved in Nb. The focus will be on the fabrication and RF testing of Nb-based qubits with Ta and Au capping layers. With Ta capping, we have achieved the best T1 (not average) decay time of nearly 600 us, which is more than a factor of 10 improvements over the bare Nb. This establishes the unique capping layer approach as a significant new direction for the development of superconducting qubits.Concurrently with the exploration of materials for encapsulation strategies, identifying materials conducive to enhancing the performance of superconducting qubits is imperative. Ideal candidates should exhibit a thin, low-loss surface oxide and establish a clean interface with the substrate, thereby minimizing defects and potential sources of losses. Rhenium, characterized by an extremely thin surface oxide (less than 1 nm) and nearly perfect crystal structure alignment with commonly used substrates such as sapphire, emerges as a promising material platform poised to elevate the performance of superconducting qubits.
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