Department of Applied Physics

Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD)

The Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD) group was formally established in October 2007, and since 2012, the premises of our research group has been referred to as QCD Labs. We keep an open mind and explore the most interesting and promising pathways to reach maximal quality and productivity in our research and innovations.
Artistic impression of a unimon qubit in a quantum processor. Credits: Aleksandr Kakinen.
Artistic impression of a unimon qubit in a quantum processor. Credits: Aleksandr Kakinen.

Unimon - A new qubit to boost quantum computers for useful applications

A group of scientists from Aalto University, IQM Quantum Computers, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have discovered a new superconducting qubit, the unimon, to increase the accuracy of quantum computations.

(Aalto news)

We have a major effort on experimental quantum physics with superconducting circuits, but we also carry out computational and theoretical work down to fundamental quantum mechanics. Currently, we focus on control and readout techniques for superconducting qubits and on the implementation of on-demand dissipation in quantum circuits to study the related dynamics of open quantum systems. 
We also develop ultrasensitive microwave detectors and on-chip components for controlling microwave photons, single-electron pumps based on silicon quantum dots, and quantum knots and monopoles in Bose-Einstein condensates. We are also proud to have given birth to a leading European quantum-computer company IQM. Recently, we jointly developed with IQM an open-source software, KQCircuits, to design superconducting quantum processors, making our tools available for the entire quantum community (more information here).

We are looking for postdocs and PhD students for experiments on superconducting quantum electronic circuits

Requirements for postdocs: 
Successful experience on measurements or fabrication of high-coherence superconducting resonators or qubits

Requirements for Ph.D students:
Outstanding performance in BSc and MSc studies on an applicable field (GPA 4.5/5.0 or greater)

If you fulfill the requirements, please apply by sending your CV, list of publications, and a short cover letter expressing your interests and greatest merits to Mikko ([email protected])

Mikko Möttönen

Group leader

Dr. Mikko Möttönen

Mikko's Quantum Blog

Research

Research highlight: 

NATURE PUBLICATION: Bolometer operating at the threshold for circuit quantum electrodynamics,
Nature 586, 47–51 (2020).

SCIENCE PUBLICATION: Observation of isolated monopoles in a quantum field,
Science 348, 544 (2015).

Bolometers used for qubit readout

Ultrasensitive bolometers

We develop fast and sensitive thermal detectors for circuit quantum electrodynamics applications.

Department of Applied Physics
Artistic depiction of a bright light in space / made by Ray Scipak

Quantum gases

Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) is a manifestation of macroscopic occupation of a single quantum state.

Department of Applied Physics
Six superconducting qubits sample

Superconducting quantum electronics

We develop components and methodology in the rapidly growing field of quantum computing, especially in the framework of circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED).

Department of Applied Physics
Quantum theory

Quantum theory

QCD's activities cover theoretical and computational problems in quantum information science as well as experimental realizations of quantum devices.

Department of Applied Physics
Silicon quantum electronics

Silicon quantum electronics

Our rigorous long term goal is to find a high-yield (100 pA) and metrologically accurate (10 ppb uncertainty) current source which could be used to redefine the unit of electric current, the ampere.

Department of Applied Physics

QCD Media Room

Media hits and research videos by the QCD group

QCD Cinema

Research presentations and media interviews on the research by the QCD group

QCD Media

QCD research in the media

Facilities

The samples are fabricated in Micronova cleanroom facilities.

Computational studies are performed utilizing the resources of Aalto University and CSC.

Micro and nanofabrication facilities

OtaNano offers facilities to develop innovative enabling technologies and apply them to practical micro- and nano-systems

Services
Cryostats and measurement equipment in QCD Labs

QCD Labs - Cryostats and measurement equipment

Cryostats and measurement equipment used in QCD Labs.

Department of Applied Physics

Latest publications

Observation of an Alice ring in a Bose–Einstein condensate

Alina Blinova, Roberto Zamora-Zamora, Tuomas Ollikainen, Markus Kivioja, Mikko Möttönen, David S. Hall 2023 Nature Communications

Propagating quantum microwaves : towards applications in communication and sensing

Mateo Casariego, Emmanuel Zambrini Cruzeiro, Stefano Gherardini, Tasio Gonzalez-Raya, Rui André, Gonçalo Frazão, Giacomo Catto, Mikko Möttönen, Debopam Datta, Klaara Viisanen, Joonas Govenius, Mika Prunnila, Kimmo Tuominen, Maximilian Reichert, Michael Renger, Kirill G. Fedorov, Frank Deppe, Harriet van der Vliet, A. J. Matthews, Yolanda Fernández, R. Assouly, R. Dassonneville, B. Huard, Mikel Sanz, Yasser Omar 2023 Quantum Science and Technology

Quantum walks on random lattices : Diffusion, localization, and the absence of parametric quantum speedup

Rostislav Duda, Moein N. Ivaki, Isac Sahlberg, Kim Pöyhönen, Teemu Ojanen 2023 PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH

Cryogenic sensor enabling broad-band and traceable power measurements

J. P. Girard, R. E. Lake, W. Liu, R. Kokkoniemi, E. Visakorpi, J. Govenius, M. Möttönen 2023 Review of Scientific Instruments

Evolution and decay of an Alice ring in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate

Markus Kivioja, Roberto Zamora-Zamora, Alina Blinova, Sanna Mönkölä, Tuomo Rossi, Mikko Möttönen 2023 PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH

Long-Distance Transmon Coupler with cz -Gate Fidelity above 99.8 %

Fabian Marxer, Antti Vepsäläinen, Shan W. Jolin, Jani Tuorila, Alessandro Landra, Caspar Ockeloen-Korppi, Wei Liu, Olli Ahonen, Adrian Auer, Lucien Belzane, Ville Bergholm, Chun Fai Chan, Kok Wai Chan, Tuukka Hiltunen, Juho Hotari, Eric Hyyppä, Joni Ikonen, David Janzso, Miikka Koistinen, Janne Kotilahti, Tianyi Li, Jyrgen Luus, Miha Papic, Matti Partanen, Jukka Räbinä, Jari Rosti, Mykhailo Savytskyi, Marko Seppälä, Vasilii Sevriuk, Eelis Takala, Brian Tarasinski, Manish J. Thapa, Francesca Tosto, Natalia Vorobeva, Liuqi Yu, Kuan Yen Tan, Juha Hassel, Mikko Möttönen, Johannes Heinsoo 2023 PRX Quantum

Single-domain Bose condensate magnetometer achieves energy resolution per bandwidth below ħ

Silvana Palacios Alvarez, Pau Gomez, Simon Coop, Roberto Zamora-Zamora, Chiara Mazzinghi, Morgan W. Mitchell 2022 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Charge ambiguity and splitting of monopoles

Toni Annala, Mikko Möttönen 2022 PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH

Cohomology of the moduli stack of algebraic vector bundles

Toni Annala, Ryomei Iwasa 2022 ADVANCES IN MATHEMATICS

Topologically protected vortex knots and links

Toni Annala, Roberto Zamora-Zamora, Mikko Möttönen 2022 Communications Physics
More information on our research in the Research database.
Research database
QCD group picture 2023
QCD group members 2023

QCD members in the group photo 2023 (from the left): Manuela Norrgrann, Heikki Suominen, Jaime Pardo, Jonatan Albanese, Samuel Klaver, Arto Viitanen, Timm Mörstedt, Mikko Tuokkola, Eemeli Forsbom, Hannaneh Zarrabi, Wallace Santos Teixeira, Jian Ma, Fredrik Ihamuotila, Iago da Silva Rossetto, Andras Gunyho, Aarne Keränen, Daniel de Carvalho

Aashish Sah, Florian Blanchet, Arman Alizadeh, Rostislav Duda, Yoshiki Sunada, Mikko Möttönen, Vasilii Vadimov, Priyank Singh, Giacomo Catto, Qiming Chen
 

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