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Optimizing the Frequency Positioning of Tunable Couplers in a Circuit QED Processor to Mitigate Spectator Effects on Quantum Operations

S. Vallés-Sanclemente1, T. H. F. Vroomans1, T. R. van Abswoude2, T. Stavenga3, F. Brulleman3, S. L. M. van der Meer1, Y. Xin1, A. Lawrence2, V. Singh1,† et al.

M. A. Rol2 and L. DiCarlo1,*

  • 1QuTech and Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5046, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands
  • 2Orange Quantum Systems, Elektronicaweg 2, 2628 XG Delft, The Netherlands
  • 3Quantware B.V., Elektronicaweg 10, 2628 XG Delft, The Netherlands

  • *Contact author: l.dicarlo@tudelft.nl
  • †Present address: A*STAR Quantum Innovation Centre, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 2 Fusionopolis Way, 08-03, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 200801 – Published 18 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/wdfj-4nbt

Abstract

We experimentally optimize the frequency of flux-tunable couplers in a superconducting quantum processor to minimize the impact of spectator transmons during quantum operations (single-qubit gates, two-qubit gates, and readout) on other transmons. We adapt a popular transmonlike tunable-coupling element, achieving high-fidelity, low-leakage controlled-Z gates with unipolar, fast-adiabatic pulsing only on the coupler. We demonstrate the ability of the tunable coupler to null residual-ZZ coupling as well as exchange couplings in the one- and two-excitation manifolds. However, the nulling of these coherent interactions is not simultaneous, prompting the exploration of trade-offs. We present experiments pinpointing spectator effects on specific quantum operations. We also study the combined effect on the three types of operations using repeated quantum parity measurements.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 200801– Published 18 May, 2026
  • Received 15 April 2025
  • Accepted 2 April 2026
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