According to some aspects, a quantum circuit is provided including a plurality of non-linear circuit elements coupled together in series and in parallel, such that at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in series and at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in parallel, wherein the quantum circuit is configured to act as an amplifier.

According to some aspects, a quantum circuit is provided including a plurality of non-linear circuit elements coupled together in series and in parallel, such that at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in series and at least two of the circuit elements are coupled together in parallel, wherein the quantum circuit is configured to act as an amplifier.

A cascading selective microwave directional amplifier (cascade) includes a set of Josephson devices, each Josephson device in the set having a corresponding operating bandwidth of microwave frequencies. Different operating bandwidths have different corresponding center frequencies. A series coupling is formed between first Josephson device from the set and an n.sup.th Josephson device from the set. The series coupling causes the first Josephson device to amplify a signal of a first frequency from a frequency multiplexed microwave signal (multiplexed signal) in a first signal flow direction through the series coupling and the n.sup.th Josephson device to amplify a signal of an n.sup.th frequency in a second signal flow direction through the series, where the second signal flow direction is opposite of the first signal flow direction.

A low-noise directional amplifier includes a first port, a second port, a first coupler and a second coupler. The first port is coupled to a first coupler. The low-noise directional amplifier also includes at least two phase preserving amplifiers, a first phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and a second coupler, and the second phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and the second coupler.

A low-noise directional amplifier includes a first port, a second port, a first coupler and a second coupler. The first port is coupled to a first coupler. The low-noise directional amplifier also includes at least two phase preserving amplifiers, a first phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and a second coupler, and the second phase preserving amplifier connected to the first coupler and the second coupler.

A cascading selective microwave directional amplifier (cascade) includes a set of Josephson devices, each Josephson device in the set having a corresponding operating bandwidth of microwave frequencies. Different operating bandwidths have different corresponding center frequencies. A series coupling is formed between first Josephson device from the set and an n.sup.th Josephson device from the set. The series coupling causes the first Josephson device to amplify a signal of a first frequency from a frequency multiplexed microwave signal (multiplexed signal) in a first signal flow direction through the series coupling and the n.sup.th Josephson device to amplify a signal of an n.sup.th frequency in a second signal flow direction through the series, where the second signal flow direction is opposite of the first signal flow direction.

A cryogenic integrated circuit or integrated module includes a travelling wave parametric amplifier or a Josephson parametric amplifier. The cryogenic integrated circuit or integrated module also includes an oscillator, a signal input, a biasing input, and a signal output. The oscillator is connected to an input of the amplifier and is configured to produce an oscillating drive signal. The signal input couples input signals into the amplifier. The biasing input couples biasing signals into the oscillator. The signal output conveys output signals from the amplifier out of the cryogenic integrated circuit or integrated module.

A technique relates to a quantum-limited microwave amplifier. A Josephson ring modulator (JRM) is connected to a first lumped-element resonator. The first lumped-element resonator includes one or more first lumped elements. A second lumped-element resonator is connected to the JRM, and the second lumped-element resonator includes one or more second lumped elements. The JRM, the first lumped-element resonator, and the second-lumped element resonator form a Josephson parametric converter (JPC). The one or more first lumped elements and the one or more second lumped elements have a value that is the same, thereby configuring the JPC to be spectrally degenerate.

A technique relates to a quantum-limited microwave amplifier. A Josephson ring modulator (JRM) is connected to a first lumped-element resonator. The first lumped-element resonator includes one or more first lumped elements. A second lumped-element resonator is connected to the JRM, and the second lumped-element resonator includes one or more second lumped elements. The JRM, the first lumped-element resonator, and the second-lumped element resonator form a Josephson parametric converter (JPC). The one or more first lumped elements and the one or more second lumped elements have a value that is the same, thereby configuring the JPC to be spectrally degenerate.

A method for ramping a switched capacitor power amplifier is disclosed, where the switched capacitor power amplifier comprises a plurality of capacitors in a capacitor bank, and where a number of the capacitors in the capacitor bank are activated. The method comprises changing the number of capacitors in the capacitor bank that are activated, maintaining the changed number of activated capacitors in the capacitor bank for a period of time, and repeating the changing and maintaining, where a length of the period of time is varied between at least two repetitions of the maintaining.