Hardware in the loop prototyping
Quantum technologies require complex control systems and packaging to ensure that the quantum effects that they use are not corrupted by their environment or external disturbances such as magnetic fields. At present most approaches to packaging these systems are developed by building a prototype and measuring its performance. This is a time consuming and costly exercise, and it leads to a wide range of different approaches to solving the same problem.
Complex simulation tools, which allow a 'virtual' prototype of the control and packaging to be created are beginning to be applied to these systems. The aim of this proposal is to build on this, and develop standard methods that allow detailed simulation of a wide range of quantum technologies. These models and methods will be evaluated by using a test platform to measure the performance of the 'real' hardware against the simulated prototype. This will allow us to rapidly refine the modelling and build a knowledge base of approaches to this type of problem. Finally we will test the subsystems more fully hardware in the loop approach methods to evaluate the real hardware operation within a larger system simulation. Our approach will be to focus on ion-trap technologies initially, and then apply these approaches to molecular devices and microwave to optical conversion devices. A successful programme will lead to the development of design and testing methods that will accelerate the development of a range of quantum technologies |
Our people
Our facilities
Triton 200 dilution refrigerator
An Oxford instruments Triton 200 allows quantum circuits to be tested at 20 mK. A fast entry loadlock allows rapid sample exchange. The fridge is equipped with heavily filtered dc wiring, coaxial cable to 20 GHz, and (soon) radio-frequency and microwave measurement capabilities.
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Attodry 800 probe stationAn attocube 800 closed-cycle cryogenic probe station allows combined optical and electronic measurements from room temperature to 4K. Integrated nanopositioners allow components to be aligned inside the vacuum chamber.
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Tektronix AWG 4162The Tektronix AWG4162 arbitrary waveform generator has two analogue channels, 2.5GSa sampling rate, and 14-bit resolution.
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