Graphs and Multi-mode Coupling: How to build a programmable, directional parametric amplifier
Jose Aumentado, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder
Parametric amplification is a big deal these days, especially for research in superconducting quantum information. This is because, in principle, parametric amplifiers can amplify a signal while adding the minimum amount of noise that quantum mechanics allows. In practice, the situation is a little more complicated and the practical measurement chains can degrade this ideal performance.
At NIST we are attempting to circumvent the technical limitations to ideal quantum-limited noise performance by using new ideas in fundamental coupled mode theory. In this talk, I'll explain the key ideas behind engineering directional parametric amplification in general as well as its practical implementation in the lab. The device I will discuss is "programmable"— it's behavior can dynamically configured in software at runtime, realizing a new, flexible tool for superconducting quantum information.