Toward Learning in Neuromorphic Circuits Based on Quantum Phase Slip Junctions

We explore the use of superconducting quantum phase slip junctions (QPSJs), an electromagnetic dual to Josephson Junctions (JJs), in neuromorphic circuits. These small circuits could serve as the building blocks of neuromorphic circuits for machine learning applications because they exhibit desirable properties such as inherent ultra-low energy per operation, high speed, dense integration, negligible loss, and natural spiking responses. In addition, they have a relatively straight-forward micro/nano fabrication, which shows promise for implementation of an enormous number of lossless interconnections that are required to realize complex neuromorphic systems. We simulate QPSJ-only, as well as hybrid QPSJ + JJ circuits for application in neuromorphic circuits including artificial synapses and neurons, as well as fan-in and fan-out circuits. We also design and simulate learning circuits, where a simplified spike timing dependent plasticity rule is realized to provide potential learning mechanisms. We also take an alternative approach, which shows potential to overcome some of the expected challenges of QPSJ-based neuromorphic circuits, via QPSJ-based charge islands coupled together to generate non-linear charge dynamics that result in a large number of programmable weights or non-volatile memory states. Notably, we show that these weights are a function of the timing and frequency of the input spiking signals and can be programmed using a small number of DC voltage bias signals, therefore exhibiting spike-timing and rate dependent plasticity, which are mechanisms to realize learning in neuromorphic circuits.

The calculation of the heat control accumulator volume of two-phase heat transfer loop of a spacecraft thermal control system

Spacecraft thermal control systems based on two-phase mechanically pumped loops have advantages in terms of mass and power consumption for auxiliary needs compared to single-phase thermal control systems. However, the disadvantage of two-phase mechanically pumped loops is that when changing the heat load and heat removal conditions, when switching from single-phase to two-phase operation mode and vice versa, the amount of working fluid in the loop changes significantly, which requires the use of a large volume heat-controlled accumulator. Therefore, determining the minimum required volume of the heat-controlled accumulator for the loop operation is an urgent task due to the need to maintain the performance of the l loop at a minimum and maximum heat loads and minimize the mass of the structure and the working fluid charged. When determining the volume of the heat-controlled accumulator, it is necessary to correctly calculate the mass of the fluid in the loop during the two-phase operation mode. The mass of the fluid depends on the void fraction, which depends significantly on the phase slip. Many models and correlations have been proposed to calculate the phase slip factor. However, they all require justification for the parameters characteristic of spacecraft thermal control systems and weightlessness conditions. The paper presents the results of ground-based experiments, based on which the verification of different models and correlations for phase slip was performed. The validation of models and correlations for the conditions of weightlessness was performed by comparing the results with the horizontal and vertical orientation of the elements of the experimental setup. The working fluid is ammonia. The experiments showed that the best coincidence of calculation and experience is provided by Chisholm correlation. The discrepancy between the calculated and experimental values did not exceed +/-7% in the entire range of study parameters both for horizontal and vertical orientations, which allow us to recommend the Chisholm correlation for determining the coolant mass in the two-phase mechanically pumped loops for parameters characteristic of spacecraft thermal control systems, including zero-gravity conditions.

Preliminary demonstration of a persistent Josephson phase-slip memory cell with topological protection

Superconducting computing promises enhanced computational power in both classical and quantum approaches. Yet, scalable and fast superconducting memories are not implemented. Here, we propose a fully superconducting memory cell based on the hysteretic phase-slip transition existing in long aluminum nanowire Josephson junctions. Embraced by a superconducting ring, the memory cell codifies the logic state in the direction of the circulating persistent current, as commonly defined in flux-based superconducting memories. But, unlike the latter, the hysteresis here is a consequence of the phase-slip occurring in the long weak link and associated to the topological transition of its superconducting gap. This disentangles our memory scheme from the large-inductance constraint, thus enabling its miniaturization. Moreover, the strong activation energy for phase-slip nucleation provides a robust topological protection against stochastic phase-slips and magnetic-flux noise. These properties make the Josephson phase-slip memory a promising solution for advanced superconducting classical logic architectures or flux qubits.

A robust nitridation technique for fabrication of disordered superconducting TiN thin films featuring phase slip events

Disorder induced phase slip (PS) events appearing in the current voltage characteristics (IVCs) are reported for two-dimensional TiN thin films produced by a robust substrate mediated nitridation technique. Here, high temperature annealing of Ti/Si3N4 based metal/substrate assembly is the key to produce majority phase TiN accompanied by TiSi2 & elemental Si as minority phases. The method itself introduces different level of disorder intrinsically by tuning the amount of the non-superconducting minority phases that are controlled by annealing temperature (Ta) and the film thickness. The superconducting critical temperature (Tc) strongly depends on Ta and the maximum Tc obtained from the demonstrated technique is about 4.8 K for the thickness range ~ 12 nm and above. Besides, the dynamics of IVCs get modulated by the appearance of intermediated resistive steps for decreased Ta and the steps get more prominent for reduced thickness. Further, the deviation in the temperature dependent critical current (Ic) from the Ginzburg–Landau theoretical limit varies strongly with the thickness. Finally, the Tc, intermediate resistive steps in the IVCs and the depairing current are observed to alter in a similar fashion with Ta and the thickness indicating the robustness of the synthesis process to fabricate disordered nitride-based superconductor.

Persistent Josephson Phase-Slip Memory with Topological Protection

Superconducting computing promises enhanced computational power in both classical and quantum approaches. Yet, efficient schemes for scalable and fast superconducting memories are still missing. On the one hand, the large inductance required in magnetic flux-controlled Josephson memories impedes device miniaturization and scalability. On the other hand, schemes based on the ferromagnetic order to store information often degrades superconductivity, and limits the operation speed to the magnetization switching rate of a few GHz. Here, we overcome these limitations with a fully superconducting memory cell based on the hysteretic phase-slip transition existing in long aluminum nanowire Josephson junctions. The memory logic state is codified in the topological index of the junction providing a robust protection against stocastic phase slips and magnetic flux noise. Our direct and non-destructive read-out schemes, based on local DC or AC tunneling spectroscopy, ensure reduced dissipation (≤ 40 fW) thereby yielding a very low energy per bit read-out power consumption as low as ~ 10-24 J as estimated from the typical time response of the structure (≤ 30 ps). The memory, measured over several days, showed no evidence of information degradation up to ~1.1 K, i.e., ~85% of the critical temperature of aluminum. The ease of operation combined with remarkable performance elects the Josephson phase-slip memory as an attractive storage cell to be exploited in advanced superconducting classical logic architectures or flux qubits.

Quantization of double enhanced charge phase-slip qubits and quantum entanglement control

The quantization scheme between double enhanced charge phase-slip (ECPS) qubits is given. In this system, there exist quantum entanglement phenomenona. The entanglement characteristic is discussed by employing the concurrence. An interesting conclusion is obtained, i.e., if one desire to change the entanglement between two ECPS qubits, the mutual inductance should be considered first, but it is also a good choice to tune symmetric and asymmetric combination of two gate voltages.