# Qiskit Aer: Pulse simulation of two qubits using a Duffing oscillator model¶

This notebook shows how to use the Qiskit Aer pulse simulator, which simulates experiments specified as pulse Schedule objects at the Hamiltonian level. The simulator solves the Schrodinger equation for a specified Hamiltonian model and pulse Schedule in the frame of the drift Hamiltonian.

In particular, in this tutorial we will:

• Construct a model of a two qubit superconducting system.

• Calibrate $$\pi$$ pulses on each qubit in the simulated system.

• Observe cross-resonance oscillations when driving qubit 1 with target qubit 0.

The Introduction outlines the concepts and flow of this notebook.

## 1. Introduction¶

The main sections proceed as follows.

### Section 3: Duffing oscillator model¶

To simulate a physical system, it is necessary to specify a model. In this notebook, we will model superconducting qubits as a collection of Duffing oscillators. The model is specified in terms of the following parameters:

• Each Duffing oscillator is specified by a frequency $$\nu$$, anharmonicity $$\alpha$$, and drive strength $$r$$, which result in the Hamiltonian terms:

$$$2\pi\nu a^\dagger a + \pi \alpha a^\dagger a(a^\dagger a - 1) + 2 \pi r (a + a^\dagger) \times D(t),$$$

where $$D(t)$$ is the signal on the drive channel for the qubit, and $$a^\dagger$$ and $$a$$ are, respectively, the creation and annihilation operators for the qubit. Note that the drive strength $$r$$ sets the scaling of the control term, with $$D(t)$$ assumed to be a complex and unitless number satisfying $$|D(t)| \leq 1$$.

• A coupling between a pair of oscillators $$(l,k)$$ is specified by the coupling strength $$J$$, resulting in an exchange coupling term:

$$$2 \pi J (a_l a_k^\dagger + a_l^\dagger a_k),$$$

where the subscript denotes which qubit the operators act on.

• Additionally, for numerical simulation, it is necessary to specify a cutoff dimension; the Duffing oscillator model is infinite dimensional, and computer simulation requires restriction of the operators to a finite dimensional subspace.

In the code: We will define a model of the above form for two coupled qubits using the helper function duffing_system_model.

### Section 4: $$\pi$$-pulse calibration using Ignis¶

Once the model is defined, we will calibrate $$\pi$$-pulses on each qubit. A $$\pi$$-pulse is defined as a pulse on the drive channel of a qubit that “flips” the qubit; i.e. that takes the ground state to the first excited state, and the first excited state to the ground state.

We will experimentally find a $$\pi$$-pulse for each qubit using the following procedure:

• A fixed pulse shape is set - in this case it will be a Gaussian pulse.

• A sequence of experiments is run, each consisting of a Gaussian pulse on the qubit, followed by a measurement, with each experiment in the sequence having a subsequently larger amplitude for the Gaussian pulse.

• The measurement data is fit, and the pulse amplitude that completely flips the qubit is found (i.e. the $$\pi$$-pulse amplitude).

In the code: Using Ignis we will construct Schedule objects for the above experiments, then fit the data to find the $$\pi$$-pulse amplitudes.

### Section 5: Cross-resonance oscillations¶

Once the $$\pi$$-pulses are calibrated, we will simulate the effects of cross-resonance driving on qubit $$1$$ with target qubit $$0$$. This means that we will drive qubit $$1$$ at the frequency of qubit $$0$$, with the goal of observing that the trajectory and oscillations of qubit $$0$$ depends on the state of qubit $$1$$. This phenomenon provides a basis for creating two-qubit controlled gates. Note: This section requires the calibration of the $$\pi$$-pulse in Section 4.

To observe cross-resonance driving, we will use experiments very similar to the $$\pi$$-pulse calibration case:

• Initially, qubit $$1$$ is either left in the ground state, or is driven to its first excited state using the $$\pi$$-pulse found in Section 4.

• A sequence of experiments is run, each consisting of a Gaussian pulse on qubit $$1$$ driven at the frequency of qubit $$0$$, followed by a measurement of both qubits, with each experiment of the sequence having a subsequently larger amplitude for the Gaussian pulse.

In the code: Functions for defining the experiments and visualizing the data are constructed, including a visualization of the trajectory of the target qubit on the Bloch sphere.

## 2. Imports¶

This notebook makes use of the following imports.

[1]:

import numpy as np
from scipy.optimize import curve_fit, root

# visualization tools
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from qiskit.visualization.bloch import Bloch


Import qiskit libraries for working with pulse and calibration:

[2]:

import qiskit.pulse as pulse
from qiskit.pulse.library import Gaussian, GaussianSquare
from qiskit.compiler import assemble

from qiskit.ignis.characterization.calibrations import rabi_schedules, RabiFitter


Imports for qiskit pulse simulator:

[3]:

# The pulse simulator
from qiskit.providers.aer import PulseSimulator

# function for constructing duffing models
from qiskit.providers.aer.pulse import duffing_system_model


## 3. Duffing oscillator system model¶

An object representing a model for a collection of Duffing oscillators can be constructed using the duffing_system_model function. Here we construct a $$2$$ Duffing oscillator model with cutoff dimension $$3$$.

[4]:

# cutoff dimension
dim_oscillators = 3

# frequencies for transmon drift terms, harmonic term and anharmonic term
# Number of oscillators in the model is determined from len(oscillator_freqs)
oscillator_freqs = [5.0e9, 5.2e9]
anharm_freqs = [-0.33e9, -0.33e9]

# drive strengths
drive_strengths = [0.02e9, 0.02e9]

# specify coupling as a dictionary (qubits 0 and 1 are coupled with a coefficient 0.002e9)
coupling_dict = {(0,1): 0.002e9}

# sample duration for pulse instructions
dt = 1e-9

# create the model
two_qubit_model = duffing_system_model(dim_oscillators=dim_oscillators,
oscillator_freqs=oscillator_freqs,
anharm_freqs=anharm_freqs,
drive_strengths=drive_strengths,
coupling_dict=coupling_dict,
dt=dt)

/home/runner/work/qiskit/qiskit/.tox/docs/lib/python3.8/site-packages/qiskit/providers/aer/pulse/system_models/string_model_parser/string_model_parser.py:280: DeprecationWarning: Using the __mul__ operator A * B as shorthand for A.dot(B) is deprecated as of version 0.17.0 and will be  removed no earlier than 3 months after the release date. As an alternative, use the compose operator B & A in place of A * B as a replacement.
stack.append(op1 * op2)


The function duffing_system_model returns a PulseSystemModel object, which is a general object for storing model information required for simulation with the PulseSimulator.

## 4 Calibrating $$\pi$$ pulses on each qubit using Ignis¶

As described in the introduction, we now calibrate $$\pi$$ pulses on each qubit in two_qubit_model. The experiments in this calibration procedure are known as Rabi experiments, and the data we will observe are known as Rabi oscillations.

### 4.1 Constructing the schedules¶

We construct the schedules using the rabi_schedules function in Ignis. To do this, we need to supply an InstructionScheduleMap containing a measurement schedule.

[5]:

# list of qubits to be used throughout the notebook
qubits = [0, 1]

# Construct a measurement schedule and add it to an InstructionScheduleMap
meas_amp = 0.025
meas_samples = 1200
meas_sigma = 4
meas_width = 1150
meas_pulse = GaussianSquare(duration=meas_samples, amp=meas_amp,
sigma=meas_sigma, width=meas_width)

acq_sched = pulse.Acquire(meas_samples, pulse.AcquireChannel(0), pulse.MemorySlot(0))
acq_sched += pulse.Acquire(meas_samples, pulse.AcquireChannel(1), pulse.MemorySlot(1))

measure_sched = pulse.Play(meas_pulse, pulse.MeasureChannel(0)) | pulse.Play(meas_pulse, pulse.MeasureChannel(1)) | acq_sched

inst_map = pulse.InstructionScheduleMap()


Next, construct the Rabi schedules.

[6]:

# construct Rabi experiments
drive_amps = np.linspace(0, 0.9, 48)
drive_sigma = 16
drive_duration = 128
drive_channels = [pulse.DriveChannel(0), pulse.DriveChannel(1)]

rabi_experiments, rabi_amps = rabi_schedules(amp_list=drive_amps,
qubits=qubits,
pulse_width=drive_duration,
pulse_sigma=drive_sigma,
drives=drive_channels,
inst_map=inst_map,
meas_map=[[0, 1]])


The Schedules in rabi_schedules correspond to experiments to generate Rabi oscillations on both qubits in parallel. Each experiment consists of a Gaussian pulse on the qubits of a given magnitude, followed by measurement.

For example:

[7]:

rabi_experiments[10].draw()

[7]:


### 4.2 Simulate the Rabi experiments¶

To simulate the Rabi experiments, assemble the Schedule list into a qobj. When assembling, pass the PulseSimulator as the backend.

Here, we want to use local oscillators with frequencies automatically computed from Duffing model Hamiltonian.

[8]:

# instantiate the pulse simulator
backend_sim = PulseSimulator()

# compute frequencies from the Hamiltonian
qubit_lo_freq = two_qubit_model.hamiltonian.get_qubit_lo_from_drift()

rabi_qobj = assemble(rabi_experiments,
backend=backend_sim,
qubit_lo_freq=qubit_lo_freq,
meas_level=1,
meas_return='avg',
shots=512)


Run the simulation using the simulator backend.

[9]:

# run the simulation
rabi_result = backend_sim.run(rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()

/tmp/ipykernel_19116/4104588076.py:2: DeprecationWarning: Passing system_model as a positional argument to PulseSimulator.run has been deprecated as of qiskit-aer 0.7.0 and will be removed no earlier than 3 months from that release date. Pass system_model as a kwarg system_model=model instead.
rabi_result = backend_sim.run(rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()
/home/runner/work/qiskit/qiskit/.tox/docs/lib/python3.8/site-packages/qiskit/providers/aer/pulse/system_models/string_model_parser/operator_generators.py:154: DeprecationWarning: Using the __matmul__ operator A @ B as shorthand for A.compose(B) is deprecated as of version 0.17.0 and will be  removed no earlier than 3 months after the release date. Use the A & B instead.


### 4.3 Fit and plot the data¶

Next, we use RabiFitter in Ignis to fit the data, extract the $$\pi$$-pulse amplitude, and then plot the data.

[10]:

rabifit = RabiFitter(rabi_result, rabi_amps, qubits, fit_p0 = [0.5,0.5,0.6,1.5])

plt.figure(figsize=(15, 10))
q_offset = 0
for qubit in qubits:
ax = plt.subplot(2, 2, qubit + 1)
rabifit.plot(qubit, ax=ax)
print('Pi Amp: %f'%rabifit.pi_amplitude(qubit))
plt.show()

Pi Amp: 0.618362
Pi Amp: 0.619663


Plotted is the averaged IQ data for observing each qubit. Observe that here, each qubit oscillates between the 0 and 1 state. The amplitude at which a given qubit reaches the peak of the oscillation is the desired $$\pi$$-pulse amplitude.

## 5. Oscillations from cross-resonance drive¶

Next, we simulate the effects of a cross-resonance drive on qubit $$1$$ with target qubit $$0$$, observing that the trajectory and oscillations of qubit $$0$$ depends on the state of qubit $$1$$.

Note: This section depends on the $$\pi$$-pulse calibrations of Section 2.

### 5.1 Cross-resonance ControlChannel indices¶

Driving qubit $$1$$ at the frequency of qubit $$0$$ requires use of a pulse ControlChannel. The model generating function duffing_system_model, automatically sets up ControlChannels for performing cross-resonance drives between pairs of coupled qubits. The index of the ControlChannel for performing a particular cross-resonance drive is retrievable using the class method control_channel_index on the returned PulseSystemModel. For example, to get the ControlChannel index corresponding to a CR drive on qubit 1 with target 0, call the function control_channel_index with the tuple (1,0):

[11]:

two_qubit_model.control_channel_index((1,0))

[11]:

1


Hence, to perform a cross-resonance drive on qubit $$1$$ with target qubit $$0$$, use ControlChannel(1). This will be made use of when constructing Schedule objects in this section.

### 5.2 Functions to generate the experiment list, and analyze the output¶

First, we define a function cr_drive_experiments, which, given the drive and target indices, and the option to either start with the drive qubit in the ground or excited state, returns a list of experiments for observing the oscillations.

[12]:

# store the pi amplitudes from Section 2 in a list
pi_amps = [rabifit.pi_amplitude(0), rabifit.pi_amplitude(1)]

def cr_drive_experiments(drive_idx,
target_idx,
flip_drive_qubit = False,
cr_drive_amps=np.linspace(0, 0.9, 16),
cr_drive_samples=800,
cr_drive_sigma=4,
pi_drive_samples=128,
pi_drive_sigma=16):
"""Generate schedules corresponding to CR drive experiments.

Args:
drive_idx (int): label of driven qubit
target_idx (int): label of target qubit
flip_drive_qubit (bool): whether or not to start the driven qubit in the ground or excited state
cr_drive_amps (array): list of drive amplitudes to use
cr_drive_samples (int): number samples for each CR drive signal
cr_drive_sigma (float): standard deviation of CR Gaussian pulse
pi_drive_samples (int): number samples for pi pulse on drive
pi_drive_sigma (float): standard deviation of Gaussian pi pulse on drive

Returns:
list[Schedule]: A list of Schedule objects for each experiment
"""

# Construct measurement commands to be used for all schedules
meas_amp = 0.025
meas_samples = 1200
meas_sigma = 4
meas_width = 1150
meas_pulse = GaussianSquare(duration=meas_samples, amp=meas_amp,
sigma=meas_sigma, width=meas_width)

acq_sched = pulse.Acquire(meas_samples, pulse.AcquireChannel(0), pulse.MemorySlot(0))
acq_sched += pulse.Acquire(meas_samples, pulse.AcquireChannel(1), pulse.MemorySlot(1))

# create measurement schedule
measure_sched = (pulse.Play(meas_pulse, pulse.MeasureChannel(0)) |
pulse.Play(meas_pulse, pulse.MeasureChannel(1))|
acq_sched)

# Create schedule
schedules = []
for ii, cr_drive_amp in enumerate(cr_drive_amps):

# pulse for flipping drive qubit if desired
pi_pulse = Gaussian(duration=pi_drive_samples, amp=pi_amps[drive_idx], sigma=pi_drive_sigma)

# cr drive pulse
cr_width = cr_drive_samples - 2*cr_drive_sigma*4
cr_rabi_pulse = GaussianSquare(duration=cr_drive_samples,
amp=cr_drive_amp,
sigma=cr_drive_sigma,
width=cr_width)

schedule = pulse.Schedule(name='cr_rabi_exp_amp_%s' % cr_drive_amp)

# flip drive qubit if desired
if flip_drive_qubit:
schedule += pulse.Play(pi_pulse, pulse.DriveChannel(drive_idx))

# do cr drive
# First, get the ControlChannel index for CR drive from drive to target
cr_idx = two_qubit_model.control_channel_index((drive_idx, target_idx))
schedule += pulse.Play(cr_rabi_pulse, pulse.ControlChannel(cr_idx))  << schedule.duration

schedule += measure_sched << schedule.duration

schedules.append(schedule)
return schedules


Next we create two functions for observing the data:

• plot_cr_pop_data - for plotting the oscillations between the ground state and the first excited state

• plot_bloch_sphere - for viewing the trajectory of the target qubit on the bloch sphere

[13]:

def plot_cr_pop_data(drive_idx,
target_idx,
sim_result,
cr_drive_amps=np.linspace(0, 0.9, 16)):
"""Plot the population of each qubit.

Args:
drive_idx (int): label of driven qubit
target_idx (int): label of target qubit
sim_result (Result): results of simulation
cr_drive_amps (array): list of drive amplitudes to use for axis labels
"""

amp_data_Q0 = []
amp_data_Q1 = []

for exp_idx in range(len(cr_drive_amps)):
exp_mem = sim_result.get_memory(exp_idx)
amp_data_Q0.append(np.abs(exp_mem[0]))
amp_data_Q1.append(np.abs(exp_mem[1]))

plt.plot(cr_drive_amps, amp_data_Q0, label='Q0')
plt.plot(cr_drive_amps, amp_data_Q1, label='Q1')
plt.legend()
plt.xlabel('Pulse amplitude, a.u.', fontsize=20)
plt.ylabel('Signal, a.u.', fontsize=20)
plt.title('CR (Target Q{0}, driving on Q{1})'.format(target_idx, drive_idx), fontsize=20)
plt.grid(True)

def bloch_vectors(drive_idx, drive_energy_level, sim_result):
"""Plot the population of each qubit.

Args:
drive_idx (int): label of driven qubit
drive_energy_level (int): energy level of drive qubit at start of CR drive
sim_result (Result): results of simulation

Returns:
list: list of Bloch vectors corresponding to the final state of the target qubit
for each experiment
"""

# get the dimension used for simulation
dim = int(np.sqrt(len(sim_result.get_statevector(0))))

# get the relevant dressed state indices
idx0 = 0
idx1 = 0
if drive_idx == 0:
if drive_energy_level == 0:
idx0, idx1 = 0, dim
elif drive_energy_level == 1:
idx0, idx1 = 1, dim + 1
if drive_idx == 1:
if drive_energy_level == 0:
idx0, idx1 = 0, 1
elif drive_energy_level == 1:
idx0, idx1 = dim, dim + 1

# construct Pauli operators for correct dressed manifold
state0 = np.array([two_qubit_model.hamiltonian._estates[idx0]])
state1 = np.array([two_qubit_model.hamiltonian._estates[idx1]])

outer01 = np.transpose(state0)@state1
outer10 = np.transpose(state1)@state0
outer00 = np.transpose(state0)@state0
outer11 = np.transpose(state1)@state1

X = outer01 + outer10
Y = -1j*outer01 + 1j*outer10
Z = outer00 - outer11

# function for computing a single bloch vector
bloch_vec = lambda vec: np.real(np.array([np.conj(vec)@[email protected], np.conj(vec)@[email protected], np.conj(vec)@[email protected]]))

return [bloch_vec(sim_result.get_statevector(idx)) for idx in range(len(sim_result.results))]

def plot_bloch_sphere(bloch_vectors):
"""Given a list of Bloch vectors, plot them on the Bloch sphere

Args:
bloch_vectors (list): list of bloch vectors
"""
sphere = Bloch()
sphere.show()


### 5.3 Drive qubit 1 to observe CR oscillations on qubit 0¶

#### Qubit 1 in the ground state¶

First, we drive with both qubit 0 and qubit 1 in the ground state.

[14]:

# construct experiments
drive_idx = 1
target_idx = 0
flip_drive = False
experiments = cr_drive_experiments(drive_idx, target_idx, flip_drive)

# compute frequencies from the Hamiltonian
qubit_lo_freq = two_qubit_model.hamiltonian.get_qubit_lo_from_drift()

# assemble the qobj
cr_rabi_qobj = assemble(experiments,
backend=backend_sim,
qubit_lo_freq=qubit_lo_freq,
meas_level=1,
meas_return='avg',
shots=512)


Run the simulation:

[15]:

sim_result = backend_sim.run(cr_rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()

plot_cr_pop_data(drive_idx, target_idx, sim_result)

/tmp/ipykernel_19116/1348495988.py:1: DeprecationWarning: Passing system_model as a positional argument to PulseSimulator.run has been deprecated as of qiskit-aer 0.7.0 and will be removed no earlier than 3 months from that release date. Pass system_model as a kwarg system_model=model instead.
sim_result = backend_sim.run(cr_rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()


Observe that qubit 1 remains in the ground state, while excitations are driven in qubit 0.

We may also observe the trajectory of qubit 0 on the Bloch sphere:

[16]:

bloch_vecs = bloch_vectors(drive_idx, int(flip_drive), sim_result)
plot_bloch_sphere(bloch_vecs)


#### Qubit 1 in the first excited state¶

Next, we again perform a CR drive qubit 1 with qubit 0 as the target, but now we start each experiment by flipping qubit 1 into the first excited state.

[17]:

# construct experiments, now with flip_drive == True
drive_idx = 1
target_idx = 0
flip_drive = True
experiments = cr_drive_experiments(drive_idx, target_idx, flip_drive)

# compute frequencies from the Hamiltonian
qubit_lo_freq = two_qubit_model.hamiltonian.get_qubit_lo_from_drift()

# assemble the qobj
cr_rabi_qobj = assemble(experiments,
backend=backend_sim,
qubit_lo_freq=qubit_lo_freq,
meas_level=1,
meas_return='avg',
shots=512)

[18]:

sim_result = backend_sim.run(cr_rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()

plot_cr_pop_data(drive_idx, target_idx, sim_result)

/tmp/ipykernel_19116/1348495988.py:1: DeprecationWarning: Passing system_model as a positional argument to PulseSimulator.run has been deprecated as of qiskit-aer 0.7.0 and will be removed no earlier than 3 months from that release date. Pass system_model as a kwarg system_model=model instead.
sim_result = backend_sim.run(cr_rabi_qobj, two_qubit_model).result()


Observe that now qubit 1 is in the excited state, while oscillations are again being driven on qubit 0, now at a different rate as before.

Again, observe the trajectory of qubit 0 on the Bloch sphere:

[19]:

bloch_vecs = bloch_vectors(drive_idx, int(flip_drive), sim_result)
plot_bloch_sphere(bloch_vecs)


Here we see that qubit 0 takes a different trajectory on the Bloch sphere when qubit 1 is in the excited state. This is what enables controlled operations between two qubits.

[20]:

import qiskit.tools.jupyter
%qiskit_version_table

/home/runner/work/qiskit/qiskit/.tox/docs/lib/python3.8/site-packages/qiskit/aqua/__init__.py:86: DeprecationWarning: The package qiskit.aqua is deprecated. It was moved/refactored to qiskit-terra For more information see <https://github.com/Qiskit/qiskit-aqua/blob/main/README.md#migration-guide>
warn_package('aqua', 'qiskit-terra')


### Version Information

Qiskit SoftwareVersion
qiskit-terra0.18.0
qiskit-aer0.8.2
qiskit-ignis0.6.0
qiskit-ibmq-provider0.15.0
qiskit-aqua0.9.4
qiskit0.28.0
qiskit-nature0.1.4
qiskit-finance0.2.0
qiskit-optimization0.2.0
qiskit-machine-learning0.2.0
System information
Python3.8.11 (default, Jul 5 2021, 19:22:52) [GCC 9.3.0]
OSLinux
CPUs2
Memory (Gb)6.790920257568359
Mon Jul 19 22:15:02 2021 UTC

### This code is a part of Qiskit

[ ]: