IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,657,501
Granted Patent B2
US 12,657,501 · App. 18/332,455 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Precision ferrite-based electromagnetic signal circulators for quantum computing systems

Inventors: George Earl Grant Sterling (Santa Barbara, CA); Ofer Naaman (Santa Barbara, CA); Theodore Charles White (Goleta, CA)
Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
G06N10/40H01P1/11H01P1/393
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,657,501
App. No.
18/332,455
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a waveguide assembly within a non-reciprocal electronic device (e.g., a circulator). The waveguide assembly may include a ferrite member, a magnetic member, and a pole assembly. The pole assembly, in combination with at least the ferrite member and the magnetic member forms a magnetic circuit. The pole assembly has a spatial variance of a magnetic reluctance. The spatial variance of the magnetic reluctance of the pole assembly provides an increase in a uniformity of a magnetic flux throughout a volume of the ferrite member. A non-reciprocal property of the electronic device is enhanced due to the increase in the uniformity of the magnetic flux throughout the volume of the ferrite member.

Claims (41)

1 . A cryogenic system comprising:

a cryogenic chamber; and

a circulator device positioned within the cryogenic chamber, the circulator device comprising:

a ferrite member;

a magnetic member; and

a pole assembly that in combination with at least the ferrite member and the magnetic member forms a magnetic circuit, wherein the pole assembly comprises a first pole member that has a spatial variance of a magnetic reluctance that provides an increase in a uniformity of a magnetic flux throughout a volume of the ferrite member to provide non-reciprocal behavior of the circulator device due to the increase in the uniformity of the magnetic flux, and wherein the first pole member being disposed between the ferrite member and the magnetic member.

2 . A waveguide assembly within a non-reciprocal electronic device, the waveguide assembly comprising:

a ferrite member;

a magnetic member; and

a pole assembly that in combination with at least the ferrite member and the magnetic member forms a magnetic circuit, wherein the pole assembly comprises a first pole member that has a spatial variance of a magnetic reluctance that provides an increase in a uniformity of a magnetic flux throughout a volume of the ferrite member to provide non-reciprocal behavior of the electronic device due to the increase in the uniformity of the magnetic flux, and wherein the first pole member being disposed between the ferrite member and the magnetic member.

3 . The waveguide assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electronic device comprises:

the waveguide assembly;

a first port;

a second port; and

a third port, wherein the non-reciprocal behavior of the electronic device comprises:

in response to a first signal being provided as an input signal to the first port, the second port provides the first signal as an output signal;

in response to the first signal being provided as the input signal to the second port, the third port provides the first signal as the output signal; and

in response to the first signal being provided as the input signal to the third port, the first port provides the first signal as the output signal.

4 . The waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the spatial variance of the first pole member includes a spatial variance in at least one of a shape or a magnetic permeability of the first pole member.

5 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spatial variance in the shape of the first pole member includes a plurality of voids positioned in a volume of the first pole member.

6 . The waveguide assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of voids positioned in the volume of the first pole member includes a plurality of perforations throughout a surface of the first pole member.

7 . The waveguide assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of voids positioned in the volume of the first pole member includes a plurality of recesses positioned on a surface of the first pole member.

8 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spatial variance in the shape of the first pole member includes a plurality of etchings positioned on a surface of the first pole member.

9 . The waveguide assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of etchings positioned on the surface of the first pole member was generated via an electrochemical etching process.

10 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spatial variance in the shape of the first pole member includes a plurality of protrusions positioned on a surface of the first pole member.

11 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spatial variance in the shape of the first pole member includes a gradient in a thickness of the first pole member.

12 . The waveguide assembly of claim 11 , wherein the gradient in the thickness of the first pole member includes a gradient along a radial direction of the first pole member.

13 . The waveguide assembly of claim 11 , wherein the gradient in the thickness of the first pole member includes a gradient of thickness along an azimuthal direction of the first pole member.

14 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first pole member is a composite pole member comprised of a plurality of materials of separate magnetic permeability such that the variance in the magnetic permeability of the first pole member is provided by a positioning of each material of the plurality of materials within a volume of the first pole member.

15 . The waveguide assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first pole member is first cylindrical disk, the spatial variance of the first pole member is a first spatial variance, and the pole assembly further comprises:

a second pole member that is a second cylindrical disk that is positioned on top of the first pole member such that the first pole member and the second pole member have a common vertical axis of rotation and the second pole member has a second spatial variance.

16 . The waveguide assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first pole member is rotated about the common vertical axis of rotation through a first angle relative to the second pole member such that the combination of the first spatial variance of the first pole member and the second spatial variance of the second pole member provides the increase in the uniformity of the magnetic flux throughout the volume of the ferrite member.

17 . The waveguide assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first pole member is rotated in situ of a cryogenic chamber that houses the electronic device.

18 . A quantum computing system, comprising:

a plurality of qubits;

a quantum logic circuit (QLC) that is enabled to perform a set of quantum operations on the plurality of qubits; and

a circulator device that is enabled to non-reciprocally route signals associated with the set of quantum operations, wherein the circulator device comprises:

a ferrite member;

a magnetic member; and

a pole assembly that in combination with at least the ferrite member and the magnetic member forms a magnetic circuit, wherein the pole assembly comprises a first pole member that has a spatial variance of a magnetic reluctance that provides an increase in a uniformity of a magnetic flux throughout a volume of the ferrite member to provide non-reciprocal behavior of the circulator device due to the increase in the uniformity of the magnetic, and wherein the first pole member being disposed between the ferrite member and the magnetic member.

19 . The quantum computing system of claim 18 , further comprising a cryogenic chamber, wherein the plurality of qubits, the QLC, and the circulator device are positioned within the cryogenic chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2023
From: STERLING, GEORGE EARL GRANT; NAAMAN, OFER; WHITE, THEODORE CHARLES
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 063967/0416 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260073266A1 · Mar 12, 2026
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