Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

At low temperatures, superconducting nanodevices behave quantum mechanically, similarly to atoms, with quantum properties that can be tailored by device design. Superconducting ""artificial atoms"" emerged as one of the main candidates for the implementation of quantum bits - the basic building blocks of a quantum computer. From a fundamental point of view, superconducting devices are interesting as a new model system for investigations in quantum dynamics and as a tool to study condensed matter phenomena.Experiments on superconducting quantum devices rely on microwave measurements at low temperatures, in the tens of miliKelvin range, attainable using a dilution refrigerator. We request funding for equipment that will be used to build a new apparatus for this type of experiments. This setup implements a new method, recently developed by our research group, to connect a device and its microwave connections to a dilution refrigerator. This method has the advantage of reducing the turn-around time of experiments from a few days in conventional setups to only a few hours. The requested equipment consists of a low temperature probe, that can be used for fast insertion of devices into a running dilution refrigerator, microwave transmission lines, and amplifiers and isolators for low noise amplification. This equipment will enable a new, optimal way to perform experiments on quantum devices with up to 30 control/measurement channels, with a major impact on research in this area. It will be an essential tool for our research on quantum coherence and quantum control of superconducting devices. The equipment will be central in the training of a large team of highly qualified personnel in low temperature physics, microwaves, and related techniques.