Important Dates:
- Early bird registration: October 1, 2024
- Registration deadline: November 1, 2024
- Hotel discount deadline: October 1, 2024
- NDA deadline: November 1, 2024
- Device design presentation (virtual event): March 11, 2025
- Device design submission deadline: May 12, 2025
- Device testing presentation: October 2025
Supported by
Building quantum computers requires a combination of components, such as quantum bits, couplers, and control and readout lines, in a single chip. A small design or fabrication error can be a costly, complete failure of the quantum computer chip. Component developers must master concepts (quantum mechanics and superconductivity) and need experience in state-of-the-art tools and techniques to fabricate devices. These concepts and techniques are not in the usual science and engineering curriculum.
To fill this gap, CMC Microsystems and the NSERC CREATE training programs QSciTech and NSERC CREATE in Quantum Computing have joined forces with professors from the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, the Institut Quantique at the University of Sherbrooke, the University of Calgary, and the University of Waterloo to bring you the workshop on the design, fabrication, and testing of superconducting devices used in quantum computer hardware. We invite you to join the in-person workshop in Calgary, Alberta, from November 18 to November 22.
The workshop will teach participants how to design, simulate, fabricate, and test their superconducting circuits. The workshop will cover the fundamentals of superconductors and Josephson junctions and how to design circuits such as resonators, SQUIDs, and qubits. Students will brainstorm with researchers at leading Canadian universities and industries to pitch their device ideas and use CMC-provided CAD tools to design, simulate, and submit devices for fabrication by a foundry facilitated by CMC. Most participants will test their chips in a 4K probe station at one of the universities or with a dilution refrigerator already available for those students pursuing a PhD in experimental quantum information science. Students without access to a low-temperature probe station can test devices at the Quantum Fab Lab at Institut quantique.
During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to attend the Quantum Networking Day. Moreover, attendees are encouraged to participate in the Superconducting Quantum Device Design Awards. See details below. Don’t miss the CMC BasecampTM Build Your Own Superconducting Quantum Device workshop, which will allow you to learn why superconducting devices are at the heart of today’s commercial quantum computers such as those of Nord Quantique, Anyon Systems, D-Wave, and IBM.
Superconducting Quantum Device Design Awards
Participants are encouraged to participate in a Device Design Award (a virtual event) in March 2025. The best design ideas will be awarded* for the fabrication of their devices.
Eligibility criteria:
- Attend the in-person workshop.
- Be enrolled in graduate studies in Canada.
- Submit the design layout file for evaluation during the Device Design Award.
- Present their device ideas to a panel of experts at the Device Design Award event.
- Agree to submit a device test report 4 to 6 months after receiving the fabricated device.
*A limited number of awards are available.
Quantum Networking Day
The Quantum Networking Day, a partnership between CMC Microsystems and Quantum City, will take place alongside the workshop on November 20. This one-day event will highlight Alberta and Canada’s quantum ecosystem and bring together industry, academic experts, and organizations supporting the quantum ecosystem. The event will have panels on various topics, such as:
- How to create your quantum start-up.
- Careers in the quantum industry for scientists and non-scientists.
- Challenges and opportunities in the field of superconducting quantum research.
- Academia to industry transition.
- Quantum industry and organizations showcase.
- Plenty of opportunities to network with industry leaders, academic experts and other participants.
This event is open to a broader audience than the workshop. For more details, see the networking event webpage.
Important Notes:
- The workshop has a limited space for 50 participants.
- This event will be held in English.
- If you are awarded the fabrication of your device, you may be required to complete a Non-Disclosure Agreement and export control questionnaires. You will be contacted by Charles Paradis and Sarah Neville (Neville@cmc.ca) to get a copy of the questionnaires.
- Course participants will have access to other proprietary and confidential information during the course. So, each participant is required to sign an Access to Intellectual Property & Non-Disclosure Agreement. Participants should submit a signed agreement to Sarah Neville (Neville@cmc.ca) before November 1, 2024.
Target Audience
The target audience for this workshop are graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, professors, and industry experts with an interest in superconducting quantum devices.
Workshop Details
The workshop will run for 6 hours daily and is divided into four 1.5-hour sessions, two 30-minute coffee breaks, and a 2-hour lunch break. On Wednesday, November 20, the Networking Day events will replace the usual schedule and will be continued with a cocktail in the evening. The detailed schedule is provided below (click to enlarge).
The workshop will be focused on teamwork and problem-based learning. Specific topics include:
- Superconductivity and the London equations. The Josephson junction. The RF- and DC-SQUID.
- Theory of superconducting quantum circuits.
- Circuit extraction and distributed circuit design. Transmission lines, resonators, and filters.
- Process design kit, design methodology and layout tutorial
- Parameter extraction via electromagnetic simulation of devices
- Readout of superconducting circuits.
- Superconducting amplifiers and parametric amplification
- PCB design and packaging for superconducting quantum devices.
Certificates will be given to participants after the completion of the in-person workshop and the Superconducting Quantum Device Design Awards.
Schedule
Speakers/Instructors
- Prof. Shabir Barzanjeh – University of Calgary
- Prof. Rogério de Sousa – Quantum BC, University of Victoria
- Ph.D. Udson Mendes – CMC Microsystems
- MSc. Charles Paradis – CMC Microsystems
- Ph.D. Amr Samir – CMC Microsystems
- PH.D. Christopher Xu – Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo
- Ph.D. Fadime Bekmanbetova – Nanoacademic technologies
Scientific Committee
- Prof. Shabir Barzanjeh – University of Calgary
- Prof. Rogério de Sousa – Quantum BC, University of Victoria
- Prof. Max Hofheinz – Institut Quantique, Université de Sherbrooke
- Prof. Mathieu Juan – Institut Quantique, Université de Sherbrooke
- Prof. Adrian Lupascu – Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo
- Dr. Udson Mendes – CMC Microsystems
Accommodations
Participants are recommended to stay at the ALT University district, a 10-minute walk from the university.
The rates are:
- $170/night (plus taxes) for a dual-occupation room, and
- $150/night (plus taxes) for a single occupation room.
Participants are encouraged to pair up to help reduce lodging costs. If you cannot find a colleague to share the room, please get in touch with us (quantum@cmc.ca), and we will try to help you find someone.
The discounted rate is available until October 1, 2024. Cancellations/modifications are allowed up to 72 hours before arrival.
All travel and lodging costs are the responsibility of the attendees.
