Quantum Thermalization between a Superconducting Qubit and Resonator

Superconducting quantum circuits have emerged as the leading candidate technology for scalable quantum computing. More recently, they have been proposed as a test-bed for quantum thermodynamics, for instance, as a way to explore practical aspects of the design, control and optimization of quantum heat engines. Along these lines, we have designed and fabricated circuits with a transmon qubit coupled to a tunable superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator. The circuit is designed so that we can study “quantum thermalization” of the qubit, prepared in a mixed state, coupled to the resonator. We will present our preliminary measurements characterizing this process.