Josephson Parametric Amplification for Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics: Theory and Implementation

Abstract

Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics (cQED) is a highly promising platform for quantum control, quantum simulation, and quantum optics in a solid-state environment. Such systems consist of artificial atoms coupled to superconducting resonators, and can be probed with microwave signals on a chip. This thesis theoretically and experimentally studies the method of quantum-limited Josephson parametric amplification for improving such microwave measurements. A theoretical analysis of parametric amplification with a nonlinear quantum oscillator is given, along with an analysis of a particular implementation with a superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator shunted by an array of SQUIDs. A parametric amplifier chip is designed and a fabrication process is developed. Measurement and analysis of a successfully fabricated device is presented, and future outlook is discussed.