Development of Single Cooper Pair Boxes for Quantum Computing and Photo-detection

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. This specific opportunity focuses on studying artificial two level quantum systems based on mesoscopic superconducting devices dubbed Single Cooper Pair Boxes. The main objective is to develop quantum bits for quantum computation. The same devices can be used for exquisite photo-detection with spectral resolution from sub millimeter wavelengths to X-Rays. The research involves developing a dispersive readout based on the quantum capacitance of the Single Cooper Pair Boxes, measuring the phase of the reflected RF carrier modulated by quantum capacitance, and using frequency multiplexing to read out two SCBs at the same time while looking for signs of entanglement between quantum bits. Candidates will receive broad training in microfabrication, RF and low temperature techniques, including measurements in the milliKelvin range. The technology could fill a needed gap in JPL's long-wavelength detector development effort by providing a detector that is both compatible with a multiplexed readout and has enough sensitivity for medium-resolution spectroscopy from a cold space telescope.