Experiments with double-SQUID qubits

A double-SQUID qubit (flash-qubit) allows the manipulation of quantum states by very short pulses of magnetic flux, without using microwaves. It consists of an rf-SQUID with a dc-SQUID replacing the single Josephson junction. The energy potential profile is controllable by dc bias fluxes threading the two loops. The initial qubit state in a double well is prepared by applying a dc flux pulse to one loop, thereby tilting the double well so that only one of the two states remains stable. To manipulate the state of the qubit a dc flux pulse is applied to the other loop to change the potential into a single well, where coherent Larmor oscillations between the two lowest eigenstates take place. Reading out the state is once again performed in the double well situation, where our readout dc-SQUID is able to discriminate between the two computational states due to their flux difference. We hope to present measurements done on a new sample, fabricated using shadow evaporation of aluminium and silicon nitride as the dielectric.