Analogue Quantum Simulation with Fixed-Frequency Transmon Qubits

Understand

We experimentally assess the suitability of transmon qubits with fixed frequencies and fixed interactions for the realization of analogue quantum simulations of spin systems.

• We test a set of necessary criteria for this goal on a commercial quantum processor using full quantum process tomography and more efficient Hamiltonian tomography.
• Significant single qubit errors at low amplitudes are identified as a limiting factor preventing the realization of analogue simulations on currently available devices.
• We additionally find spurious dynamics in the absence of drive pulses, which we identify with coherent coupling between the qubit and a low dimensional environment.