Realization of Fast All-Microwave Controlled-Z Gates with a Tunable Coupler

The development of high-fidelity two-qubit quantum gates is essential for digital quantum computing.Here,we propose and realize an all-microwave parametric controlled-Z(CZ)gates by coupling strength modulation in a superconducting Transmon qubit system with tunable couplers.After optimizing the design of the tunable coupler together with the control pulse numerically,we experimentally realized a 100 ns CZ gate with high fidelity of 99.38%±0.34%and the control error being 0.1%.We note that our CZ gates are not affected by pulse distortion and do not need pulse correction,providing a solution for the real-time pulse generation in a dynamic quantum feedback circuit.With the expectation of utilizing our all-microwave control scheme to reduce the number of control lines through frequency multiplexing in the future,our scheme draws a blueprint for the high-integrable quantum hardware design.

Space-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution Using a Small-Sized Payload on Tiangong-2 Space Lab

Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution （QKD）. In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. In order to construct this network, it is economical to consider small-sized and low-cost QKD payloads, which can be assembled on satellites with different sizes, such as space stations. Here we report an experimental demonstration of space-to-ground QKD using a small-sized payload, from Tiangong-2 space lab to Nanshan ground station. The 57.9-kg payload integrates a tracking system, a QKD transmitter along with modules for synchronization, and a laser communication transmitter. In the space lab, a 50MHz vacuum＋weak decoy-state optical source is sent through a reflective telescope with an aperture of 200mm. On the ground station, a telescope with an aperture of 1200mm collects the signal photons. A stable and high-transmittance communication channel is set up with a high-precision bidirectional tracking system, a polarization compensation module, and a synchronization system. When the quantum link is successfully established, we obtain a key rate over 100bps with a communication distance up to 719km. Together with our recent development of QKD in daylight, the present demonstration paves the way towards a practical satellite-constellation-based global quantum secure network with small-sized QKD payloads.

Measurement of atmospheric non-reciprocity effects for satellite-based two-way time-frequency transfer

Future optical clock networks will require high-precision optical time-frequency transfer between satellites and ground stations.However,due to atmospheric turbulence,satellite motion and time delay between the satellite–ground transmission links will cause spatial and temporal variations,respectively,resulting in the breakdown of the time-of-flight reciprocity on which optical two-way time-frequency transfer is based.Here,we experimentally simulate the atmospheric effects by two-way spatio-temporally separated links between two stationary terminals located 113 km apart and measure the effects for optical two-way time-frequency transfer.Our experiment shows that the effect on the link instability is less than 2.3×10^(−19) at 10,000 s.This indicates that when the link instability of satellite-ground optical time-frequency transfer is on the order of 10^(−19),it is not necessary to consider the atmospheric non-reciprocity effects.

在61比特可编程超导量子处理器上对量子多体态进行量子神经元感知

对具有不同性质和物相的多体量子态进行分类是量子多体物理学中最基本的任务之一.然而,由于巨大数量的相互作用的粒子所产生的指数级的复杂性,大规模量子态的分类对于经典的方法来说极具挑战性.本文提出了一种新的方法,称为量子神经元感知.利用一个61比特的超导量子处理器作为演示,作者表明该方案可以有效地对两种不同类型的多体现象,即遍历相和局域相,进行分类.量子神经元感知过程使他们能够通过只测量一个量子比特来区分这些多体物相,并提供比传统方法(如测量不平衡度)更好的分辨率.本研究证明了量子神经元感知在近期量子处理器应用的可行性和扩展性,并为探索更大规模系统中的量子多体现象开辟了新的途径.

量子计算机辅助设计先进的超导量子比特:Plasmonium

复杂的超导量子电路可以用来设计对噪声免疫的量子比特,但其复杂性可能会超出经典计算机所具备的模拟能力.在这种情况下,可以借助量子计算机来对其进行高效的模拟.在这项工作中,作者展示了在基于transmon比特的量子计算机上,利用变分量子算法模拟一种超导量子电路,并且基于此设计了一种新的量子比特“Plasmonium”,它工作在等离子体跃迁区域.文中展示的Plasmonium量子比特展示出了较高的两比特门保真度99.58(3)%.相比于transmon比特,它具有更小的物理尺寸和更大的非谐性.这些特征使得Plasmonium可以成为制造多比特量子处理器强有力的候选者.这项研究结果证实了利用量子计算机辅助设计更先进的量子处理器的可能性.

Single-photon computational 3D imaging at 45 km

Single-photon light detection and ranging(lidar)offers single-photon sensitivity and picosecond timing resolution,which is desirable for high-precision three-dimensional(3 D)imaging over long distances.Despite important progress,further extending the imaging range presents enormous challenges because only a few echo photons return and are mixed with strong noise.Here,we tackled these challenges by constructing a high-efficiency,low-noise coaxial single-photon lidar system and developing a long-range-tailored computational algorithm that provides high photon efficiency and good noise tolerance.Using this technique,we experimentally demonstrated active single-photon 3 D imaging at a distance of up to 45 km in an urban environment,with a low return-signal level of^1 photon per pixel.Our system is feasible for imaging at a few hundreds of kilometers by refining the setup,and thus represents a step towards low-power and high-resolution lidar over extra-long ranges.

Quantum computational advantage via 60-qubit 24-cycle random circuit sampling

To ensure a long-term quantum computational advantage,the quantum hardware should be upgraded to withstand the competition of continuously improved classical algorithms and hardwares.Here,we demonstrate a superconducting quantum computing systems Zuchongzhi 2.1,which has 66 qubits in a two-dimensional array in a tunable coupler architecture.The readout fidelity of Zuchongzhi 2.1 is considerably improved to an average of 97.74%.The more powerful quantum processor enables us to achieve larger-scale random quantum circuit sampling,with a system scale of up to 60 qubits and 24 cycles,and fidelity of FXEB=(3·66±0·345)×10^(-4).The achieved sampling task is about 6 orders of magnitude more difficult than that of Sycamore[Nature 574,505(2019)]in the classic simulation,and 3 orders of magnitude more difficult than the sampling task on Zuchongzhi 2.0[arXiv:2106.14734(2021)].The time consumption of classically simulating random circuit sampling experiment using state-of-the-art classical algorithm and supercomputer is extended to tens of thousands of years(about 4·8×104years),while Zuchongzhi 2.1 only takes about 4.2 h,thereby significantly enhancing the quantum computational advantage.

LED-based fiber quantum key distribution:toward low-cost applications

We report a quantum key distribution(QKD) system that uses light-emitting-diodes(LEDs) at 1310 nm as optical sources. Compared to the normally used laser diodes(LDs), LEDs are easier to manufacture and integrate, and thus have the potential to reduce the costs of practical systems. To demonstrate the feasibility of a low-cost, integratable QKD system that aims at meeting the demand of the last-mile secure communication,we utilize LEDs at 1310 nm as the optical sources, while using only passive optical components and only one single photon detector at the receiver’s side. With a repetition rate of 10 MHz, we obtain secure key rates of 10.9 kbps within the experimental time of 1000 s over a fiber length of 1 km.