Design of a Microwave Frontend for a Trapped Ion Quantum Computer

Unlike classical computers, which represent information as binary ‘1’ and ‘0’, quantum computers use qubits that exist in a superposition of both, enabling parallel computation. This capability allows them to solve special kinds of problems faster than classical computers. To process information, qubits are manipulated by applying energy, such as via a microwave signal, which is provided by a microwave frontend that ensures an appropriate frequency spectrum and power level. This paper defines the key parameters and implements such a frontend for trapped ion quantum computers which follow the magnetic gradient induced coupling (MAGIC) principle. The frontend is manufactured on a printed circuit board and measurements prove its functionality. It achieves an idle gate fidelity of 99.9% (99.99%) at an output power of 6.32 dBm (2.4 dBm).