Superconducting quantum circuits (SQC), particularly those based on qubits, are at the core of modern quantum computing. However, designing, simulating, and executing these circuits is a highly complex process that demands advanced software tools.
Figure 1 Single Transmon Design
Superconducting quantum circuits rely on qubits—Josephson junctions—to leverage quantum mechanical properties for computation. These qubits operate in ultra-cold environments where materials exhibit zero electrical resistance, enabling quantum coherence. Designing these circuits to minimize noise and avoid decoherence is critical, making simulation tools like Ansys and Qiskit Metal indispensable for success.
Qiskit Metal simplifies the design and layout of superconducting quantum circuits by providing a Python-based framework for parametrically building quantum devices. Once the design is ready, Ansys HFSS and other Ansys tools can be used to simulate the electromagnetic properties of the circuit, ensuring that the qubits perform optimally. The integration of these two platforms offers the best of both worlds: the rapid prototyping and intuitive design of Qiskit Metal with the precision and depth of Ansys simulations. So, from single Transmon Qubit to Full Chip design can be performed with integration of both tools.
The process begins with designing the superconducting quantum circuit in Qiskit Metal. Qiskit Metal provides pre-built components, including qubits, resonators, and couplers, which can be parametrically configured based on the requirements of your quantum processor.
Once the circuit design is complete in Qiskit Metal, it can be exported to Ansys HFSS or Q3D Extractor. The exported files include all the geometric details necessary for simulation.
Ansys HFSS (High-Frequency Structure Simulator) is the primary tool used to simulate the electromagnetic properties of superconducting quantum circuits, including eigenmode and EPR analysis, S-parameters, and field distributions.
After running simulations, the results can be used to refine the design back in Qiskit Metal. This iterative process ensures the design is optimized for high coherence times, minimal noise, and accurate gate operations.
Integrating Qiskit Metal’s design automation with the powerful simulation tools of Ansys HFSS and Q3D allows researchers to simplify and streamline the execution of superconducting quantum circuits. This approach ensures precise design, robust simulation, and efficient optimization, enabling the development of high-performance quantum processors that push the boundaries of quantum computing.
