Quantum Computing Architectures - BMETE15MF60

Course information - 2026 Fall Semester

  • Lecturers: András Pályi, Péter Makk
  • Language: English
  • Location: F3M01
  • Time: Tuesday 12:15-13:45
  • Requirements: quantum mechanics, solid state physics (semiconductors, bands, phonons). Detailed knowledge of superconductivity is not needed.
  • Neptun Code: BMETE15MF60
  • Exam: Short written test + oral exam.

Schedule of the semester

  • week 1 - Sep 8 - Lecture 1
  • week 2- Sep 15 - no lecture
  • week 3 - Sep 22 - Lecture 2
  • week 4 - Sep 29 - Lecture 3
  • week 5 - Oct 6 - Lecture 4
  • week 6 - Oct 13 - Lecture 5
  • week 7 - Oct 20 - Lecture 6
  • week 8 - Oct 27 - Lecture 7
  • week 9 - Nov 3 - Lecture 8 
  • week 10 - Nov 10 - Lecture 9
  • week 11 - Nov 17 - Lecture 10
  • week 12 - Nov 24 - Lecture 11
  • week 13 - Dec 1 - Lecture 12
  • week 14 - Dec 8 - Lecture 13

Contents

  1. Quantum bits
    Qubits, dynamics, measurement, polarization vector, composite systems, logical gates, circuits, algorithms.
  2. Control of quantum systems.
    Hamiltonians, propagators, and quantum gates. Larmor precession, Rabi oscillations, dispersive resonator shift in the Jaynes-Cummings model, exchange interaction, virtual photon exchange.
  3. Qubits based on the electron spin.
    Quantum dots, energy scales. Interactions: Zeeman, spin-orbit, hyperfine, electron-phonon, electron-electron.
  4. Coherent control of electron spins.
    Single-qubit gates: magnetic resonance, electrically driven spin resonance. Two-qubit gates: sqrt-of-swap via exchange interaction, CPhase. Error mechanisms during qubit control.
  5. Information loss mechanisms for electron spins.
    Qubit relaxation due to spin-orbit interaction and phonons. Qubit dephasing due to nuclear spins. Decoherence due to charge noise. Hahn echo and Car-Purcell-Meibloom-Gill (CPMG) schemes for prolonging the decoherence time.
  6. Novel spin qubit architectures
    Cavity/resonant readout, advanced material platforms.
  7. Introduction to superconductivity.
    Basics of superconductivity. Josephson junctions. Current-phase and voltage-phase Josephson relations. DC SQUID, energy terms.
  8. Charge qubit and transmon.
    Quantization of RF circuits, phase and charge as conjugate variables. Different regimes: flux, charge, phase. Control and readout of charge qubit and transmon. Single-qubit gates and dispersive readout via the resonator, Phonon-qubit coupling.
  9. Control and readout of transmon.
    Pulsed and continous readout, Stark shift, T1 and T2 measurements. Two-qubit gates, transmon-transmon coupling.
  10. Computing using transmon.
    State tomography, Bell inequalities, Entanglement, fidelity. Teleportation.
  11. Circuit quantum electrodynamics.
    Grover algorithm, error correction: repetition code, surface code. Quantum simulations
  12. Quantum computing architectures beyond
    Overview of the challenges, scaling. Other platforms: ion traps, NVs, photons.