Design of superconducting compounds at lower pressure via intercalating XH_(4) molecules(X=B,C,and N)into fcc lattices

Recently,many encouraging experimental advances have been achieved in ternary hydrides superconductors under high pressure.However,the extreme pressure required is indeed a challenge for practical application,which promotes a further exploration for high temperature(T_(c))superconductors at relatively low pressure.Herein,we performed a systematic theoretical investigation on a series of ternary hydrides with stoichiometry AX_(2)H_(8),which is constructed by interacting molecular XH_(4)(X=B,C,and N)into the fcc metal A lattice under low pressure of 0-150 GPa.We uncovered five compounds which are dynamically stable below 100 GPa,e.g.,AcB_(2)H_(8)(25 GPa),LaB_(2)H_(8)(40 GPa),RbC_(2)H_(8)(40 GPa),CSC_(2)H_(8)(60 GPa),and SrC_(2)H_(8)(65 GPa).Among them,AcB_(2)H_(8),which is energetically stable above 2.5 GPa,exhibits the highest Tcof 32 K at 25 GPa.The superconductivity originates mainly from the coupling between the electron of Ac atoms and the associated low-frequency phonons,distinct from the previous typical hydrides with H-derived superconductivity.Our results shed light on the future exploration of superconductivity among ternary compounds at low pressure.

Gradient coil design with enhanced shielding constraint for a cryogen-free superconducting MRI system

The relatively fragile low-temperature stability of cryogen-free superconducting magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)magnets requires the careful management of exogenous heat sources.A strongly shielded gradient magnetic field is important for the optimal operation of cryogen-free MRI systems.In this study,we present an enhanced shielding method incorporating a regionalized stray field constraining strategy.By optimizing the constraint parameters,we could develop engineering-feasible gradient coil schemes without increasing system complexity but with the stray field intensity reduced by half.In real measurement in an integrated MRI system,the developed gradient assembly demonstrated good performance and supported to output images of excellent quality.Our findings suggested that the proposed method could potentially form a useful design paradigm for cryogen-free MRI magnets.

Integrated multi-scale approach combining global homogenization and local refinement for multi-field analysis of high-temperature superconducting composite magnets

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting(HTS)conductors,specifically rare earth-barium-copper-oxide(REBCO)coated conductor(CC)tapes,are promising candidates for high-energy and high-field superconducting applications.With respect to epoxy-impregnated REBCO composite magnets that comprise multilayer components,the thermomechanical characteristics of each component differ considerably under extremely low temperatures and strong electromagnetic fields.Traditional numerical models include homogenized orthotropic models,which simplify overall field calculation but miss detailed multi-physics aspects,and full refinement(FR)ones that are thorough but computationally demanding.Herein,we propose an extended multi-scale approach for analyzing the multi-field characteristics of an epoxy-impregnated composite magnet assembled by HTS pancake coils.This approach combines a global homogenization(GH)scheme based on the homogenized electromagnetic T-A model,a method for solving Maxwell's equations for superconducting materials based on the current vector potential T and the magnetic field vector potential A,and a homogenized orthotropic thermoelastic model to assess the electromagnetic and thermoelastic properties at the macroscopic scale.We then identify“dangerous regions”at the macroscopic scale and obtain finer details using a local refinement(LR)scheme to capture the responses of each component material in the HTS composite tapes at the mesoscopic scale.The results of the present GH-LR multi-scale approach agree well with those of the FR scheme and the experimental data in the literature,indicating that the present approach is accurate and efficient.The proposed GH-LR multi-scale approach can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of failure in large-scale HTS composite magnets.

Disorder effects in NbTiN superconducting resonators

Disordered superconducting materials like NbTiN possess a high kinetic inductance fraction and an adjustable critical temperature, making them a good choice for low-temperature detectors. Their energy gap(D), critical temperature(T_(c)),and quasiparticle density of states(QDOS) distribution, however, deviate from the classical BCS theory due to the disorder effects. The Usadel equation, which takes account of elastic scattering, non-elastic scattering, and electro–phonon coupling,can be applied to explain and describe these deviations. This paper presents numerical simulations of the disorder effects based on the Usadel equation to investigate their effects on the △, Tc, QDOS distribution, and complex conductivity of the NbTiN film. Furthermore, NbTiN superconducting resonators with coplanar waveguide(CPW) structures are fabricated and characterized at different temperatures to validate our numerical simulations. The pair-breaking parameter α and the critical temperature in the pure state T_(c)^(P) of our NbTiN film are determined from the experimental results and numerical simulations. This study has significant implications for the development of low-temperature detectors made of disordered superconducting materials.

Low-degree toroidal modes from the Sumatra-Andaman event observed by superconducting gravimeters

The complex frequencies of the low-degree toroidal modes are helpful in constraining the mantle structure.In the early years,the traditional method to detect the low-degree toroidal modes is seismic approach,which is primarily limited by the horizontal noise of seismometers.Recently,it has been proved that gravity method is competitive.Therefore,we re-estimated or newly estimated the complex frequencies of the toroidal modes below 1.5 mHz excited by the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman event using gravity method in this paper.The results show that(1)The quality factors of0 T5-0 T9 and1 T2-1 T3 are estimated from superconducting gravity data for the first time;(2)The estimated frequencies and quality factors for0 T2-0 T9 and1 T2-1 T3 are consistent with those provided by previous publications,which verifies the correctness and effectiveness of our estimations;(3)The maximum difference of frequencies between our results and those from CPREM is on the order of 0.01 mHz and the maximum difference of quality factors is at the level of 10.

Development of a low-loss magnetic-coupling pickup for 166.6-MHz quarter-wave beta=1 superconducting cavities

166.6-MHz quarter-waveβ=1 superconducting cavities have been adopted for the High Energy Photon Source,a 6-GeV diffraction-limited synchrotron light source currently under construction.A large helium jacket was required to accommodate the enlarged cavity beam pipe for the heavy damping of higher-order modes;the original electric-probe pickup thus becomes inevitably long with unfavorable mechanical properties.Relocated to an existing high-pressure-rinsing port,a magnetic-loop pickup was designed,characterized by low radio-frequency and cryogenic losses and being multipacting-free and insensitive to manufacturing and assembly tolerances.The consequent removal of the original pickup port from the cavity largely simplified the helium jacket fabrication and may also reduce cavity contamination.This paper presents a comprehensive design of a low-loss magnetic-coupling pickup for quarter-waveβ=1 superconducting cavities.The design can also be applied to other non-elliptical structures.

Low-T_c direct current superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer-based 36-channel magnetocardiography system in a magnetically shielded room

We constructed a 36-channel magnetocardiography（MCG） system based on low-Tc direct current（DC） superconducting quantum interference device（SQUID） magnetometers operated inside a magnetically shielded room（MSR）. Weakly damped SQUID magnetometers with large Steward–Mc Cumber parameter βc（βc≈ 5）, which could directly connect to the operational amplifier without any additional feedback circuit, were used to simplify the readout electronics. With a flux-to-voltage transfer coefficient V / Φ larger than 420 μV/Φ0, the SQUID magnetometers had a white noise level of about 5.5 f T·Hz-1/2when operated in MSR. 36 sensing magnetometers and 15 reference magnetometers were employed to realize software gradiometer configurations. The coverage area of the 36 sensing magnetometers is 210×210 mm2. MCG measurements with a high signal-to-noise ratio of 40 d B were done successfully using the developed system.

Interplay between topology and localization on superconducting circuits

Topological insulators occupy a prominent position in the realm of condensed matter physics. Nevertheless, the presence of strong disorder has the potential to disrupt the integrity of topological states, leading to the localization of all states.This study delves into the intricate interplay between topology and localization within the one-dimensional Su–Schrieffer–Heeger(SSH) model, which incorporates controllable off-diagonal quasi-periodic modulations on superconducting circuits.Through the application of external alternating current(ac) magnetic fluxes, each transmon undergoes controlled driving,enabling independent tuning of all coupling strengths. Within a framework of this model, we construct comprehensive phase diagrams delineating regions characterized by extended topologically nontrivial states, critical localization, and coexisting topological and critical localization phases. The paper also addresses the dynamics of qubit excitations, elucidating distinct quantum state transfers resulting from the intricate interplay between topology and localization. Additionally, we propose a method for detecting diverse quantum phases utilizing existing experimental setups.

M^(2)CS:A microwave measurement and control system for large-scale superconducting quantum processors

As superconducting quantum computing continues to advance at an unprecedented pace,there is a compelling demand for the innovation of specialized electronic instruments that act as crucial conduits between quantum processors and host computers.Here,we introduce a microwave measurement and control system(M^(2)CS)dedicated to large-scale superconducting quantum processors.M^(2)CS features a compact modular design that balances overall performance,scalability and flexibility.Electronic tests of M^(2)CS show key metrics comparable to commercial instruments.Benchmark tests on transmon superconducting qubits further show qubit coherence and gate fidelities comparable to state-of-the-art results,confirming M^(2)CS's capability to meet the stringent requirements of quantum experiments running on intermediate-scale quantum processors.The compact and scalable nature of our design holds the potential to support over 1000 qubits after upgrade in stability and integration.The M^(2)CS architecture may also be adopted to a wider range of scenarios,including other quantum computing platforms such as trapped ions and silicon quantum dots,as well as more traditional applications like microwave kinetic inductance detectors and phased array radar systems.

Research and development of a 0.5-m-long helical superconducting undulator prototype

The helical undulator is in high demand in synchrotron radiation facilities for circular polarization generation.Owing to the higher field strength provided by the superconducting undulator compared to the conventional permanent-magnet undulator,greater research efforts should be directed toward this area.The helical superconducting undulator holds great potential in synchrotron radiation facilities,especially in low-energy storage rings that seek circularly polarized radiation with the highest possible radiation flux.Following the successful development of planar superconducting undulators,the Institute of High Energy Physics conducted research and development for the helical superconducting undulator.A 0.5-m-long Deltatype superconducting undulator prototype was developed and tested.Detailed information on the design,fabrication,and cryogenic testing of the prototype is presented and discussed.

Tunable superconducting resonators via on-chip control of local magnetic field

Superconducting microwave resonators play a pivotal role in superconducting quantum circuits.The ability to finetune their resonant frequencies provides enhanced control and flexibility.Here,we introduce a frequency-tunable superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator.By applying electrical currents through specifically designed ground wires,we achieve the generation and control of a localized magnetic field on the central line of the resonator,enabling continuous tuning of its resonant frequency.We demonstrate a frequency tuning range of 54.85 MHz in a 6.21-GHz resonator.This integrated and tunable resonator holds great potential as a dynamically tunable filter and as a key component of communication buses and memory elements in superconducting quantum computing.

Higher-order mode analysis for SOLEIL-type superconducting cavity

A 499.8 MHz SOLEIL-type superconducting cavity was simulated and designed for the first time in this paper.The higher-order mode(HOM)properties of the cavity were investigated.Two kinds of coaxial HOM couplers were designed.Using 4 L-type and 4 T-type HOM couplers,the longitudinal impedance and the transverse impedances were suppressed to below 3 kΩand 30 kΩ/m,respectivly.The HOM damping requirements of Hefei Advanced Light Facility(HALF)were satisfied.This paper conducted an in-depth study on the radio frequency(RF)design,multipacting optimization,and thermal analysis of these coaxial couplers.Simulation results indicated that under operating acceleration voltage,the optimized couplers does not exhibit multiplicating or thermal breakdown phenomena.The cavity has the potential to reach a higher acceleration gradient.

Diagnosing quantum crosstalk in superconducting quantum chips by using out-of-time-order correlators

Performance of a scalable quantum processor critically relies on minimizing crosstalk and unwanted interactions within the system,as it is vital for parallel controlled operations on qubits.We present a protocol not only to provide information about residual coupling but also to effectively discriminate it from the influence of classical crosstalk.Our approach utilizes out-of-time-order correlators(OTOCs)as a signal of quantum crosstalk,making it applicable to various coupling forms and scalable architectures.To demonstrate the effectiveness of our protocol,we provide a theoretical analysis and simulate its implementation in coupled superconducting qubits.

Correction of microwave pulse reflection by digital filters in superconducting quantum circuits

Reducing the control error is vital for high-fidelity digital and analog quantum operations.In superconducting circuits,one disagreeable error arises from the reflection of microwave signals due to impedance mismatch in the control chain.Here,we demonstrate a reflection cancelation method when considering that there are two reflection nodes on the control line.We propose to generate the pre-distortion pulse by passing the envelopes of the microwave signal through digital filters,which enables real-time reflection correction when integrated into the field-programmable gate array(FPGA).We achieve a reduction of single-qubit gate infidelity from 0.67%to 0.11%after eliminating microwave reflection.Real-time correction of microwave reflection paves the way for precise control and manipulation of the qubit state and would ultimately enhance the performance of algorithms and simulations executed on quantum processors.

Nonreciprocal transport in the superconducting state of the chiral crystal NbGe_(2)

Due to the lack of inversion,mirror or other roto-inversion symmetries,chiral crystals possess a well-defined handedness which,when combined with time-reversal symmetry breaking from the application of magnetic fields,can give rise to directional dichroism of the electrical transport phenomena via the magnetochiral anisotropy.In this study,we investigate the nonreciprocal magneto-transport in microdevices of NbGe_(2),a superconductor with structural chirality.A giant nonreciprocal signal from vortex motions is observed during the superconducting transition,with the ratio of nonreciprocal resistance to the normal resistanceγreaching 6×10^(5)T^(-1)·A^(-1).Interestingly,the intensity can be adjusted and even sign-reversed by varying the current,the temperature,and the crystalline orientation.Our findings illustrate intricate vortex dynamics and offer ways of manipulation on the rectification effect in superconductors with structural chirality.

Pressure-induced structural,electronic,and superconducting phase transitions in TaSe_(3)

TaSe_(3)has garnered significant research interests due to its unique quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure,which gives rise to distinctive properties.Using crystal structure search and first-principles calculations,we systematically investigated the pressure-induced structural and electronic phase transitions of quasi-one-dimensional TaSe_(3)up to 100 GPa.In addition to the ambient pressure phase(P2_(1)/m-I),we identified three high-pressure phases:P2_(1)/m-II,Pnma,and Pmma.For the P2_(1)/m-I phase,the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling(SOC)results in significant SOC splitting and changes in the band inversion characteristics.Furthermore,band structure calculations for the three high-pressure phases indicate metallic natures,and the electron localization function suggests ionic bonding between Ta and Se atoms.Our electron-phonon coupling calculations reveal a superconducting critical temperature of approximately 6.4 K for the Pmma phase at 100 GPa.This study provides valuable insights into the high-pressure electronic behavior of quasi-one-dimensional TaSe_(3).

Simulations of superconducting quantum gates by digital flux tuner for qubits

The interconnection bottleneck caused by limitations of cable number, inner space and cooling power of dilution refrigerators has been an outstanding challenge for building scalable superconducting quantum computers with the increasing number of qubits in quantum processors. To surmount such an obstacle, it is desirable to integrate qubits with quantum–classical interface(QCI) circuits based on rapid single flux quantum(RSFQ) circuits. In this work, a digital flux tuner for qubits(DFTQ) is proposed for manipulating flux of qubits as a crucial part of the interface circuit. A schematic diagram of the DFTQ is presented, consisting of a coarse tuning unit and a fine-tuning unit for providing magnetic flux with different precision to qubits. The method of using DFTQ to provide flux for gate operations is discussed from the optimization of circuit design and input signal. To verify the effectiveness of the method, simulations of a single DFTQ and quantum gates including a Z gate and an iSWAP gate with DFTQs are performed for flux-tunable transmons. The quantum process tomography corresponding to the two gates is also carried out to analyze the sources of gate error. The results of tomography show that the gate fidelities independent of the initial states of the Z gate and the iSWAP gate are 99.935% and 99.676%,respectively. With DFTQs inside, the QCI would be a powerful tool for building large-scale quantum computers.

Coulomb-assisted nonlocal electron transport between two pairs of Majorana bound states in a superconducting island

We investigate the nonlocal transport modulated by Coulomb interactions in devices comprising two interacting Majorana wires,where both nanowires are in proximity to a mesoscopic superconducting(SC)island.Each Majorana bound state(MBS)is coupled to one lead via a quantum dot with resonant levels.In this device,the nonlocal correlations can be induced in the absence of Majorana energy splitting.We find that the negative differential conductance and giant current noise cross correlation could be induced,due to the interplay between nonlocality of MBSs and dynamical Coulomb blockade effect.This feature may provide a signature for the existence of the MBSs.

In-situ deposited anti-aging TiN capping layer for Nb superconducting quantum circuits

The performance of Nb superconducting quantum devices is predominantly limited by dielectric loss at the metal–air interface,where Nb2O5 is considered the main loss source.Here,we suppress the formation of native oxides by in-situ deposition of a TiN capping layer on the Nb film.With TiN capping layers,no Nb2O5 forms on the surface of the Nb film.The quality factor Qi of the Nb resonator increases from 5.6×10^(5) to 7.9×10^(5) at low input power and from 6.8×10^(6) to 1.1×10^(7)at high input power.Furthermore,the TiN capping layer also shows good aging resistance in Nb resonator devices,with no significant performance fluctuations after one month of aging.These findings highlight the effectiveness of TiN capping layers in enhancing the performance and longevity of Nb superconducting quantum devices.

Analysis of the Superconducting Cable Transposition in Low Resistance CICC Joint

In an integrated structure low resistance CICC joint, current is conducted by outer cable strands coming into touch with the conductive Cu sole. So it is an important condition for satisfying joint performance that each strand of the cable inside the joint is able to come to the outermost by transposition. This paper presents analysis, calculation and figures for the strand transposition. According to the twist procedures of the superconducting cable, the author computed the actual pitch of each stage cable, consecutively computed the projection of each stage cable on the axis of the cable (z axis) and the corresponding twist angle as the z coordinate changes, which is then drawn by AutoCAD. From the results shown in the figures, the minimal cable length, which enables each strand to transpose almost equally to the outermost of the cable in such a length, call be determined as the optimal joint length.