Article

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), in collaboration with partners, have developed a key component for superconducting quantum computers in the EU project TruePA. The new microwave amplifier enhances the readout of quantum processors by amplifying extremely weak microwave signals without altering the qubit states.

The team has significantly improved the principle of the traveling wave parametric amplifier (TWPA), which amplifies signals along a wave in a transmission line. Unlike conventional TWPAs where part of the signal moves backward, potentially disrupting qubit states, the new design eliminates the need for large magnetic isolators by ensuring that signals only move forward through the system. This advancement allows for more compact and scalable quantum computers and quantum detectors.