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COMP_ENG 395: FPGA-based Quantum Computer Controller Design

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Description

This hands-on design course covers the emerging field of FPGA-based
control systems for quantum computers. Through lectures, guided
laboratories, research paper readings and discussion, and an individual
project, this course will introduce students to the digital hardware
that generates, sequences, and reads out the microwave signals used to
operate superconducting qubits. The course will provide an introduction
to the relevant FPGA and quantum control topics, including the Vivado
design flow, Verilog and AXI interfaces, PYNQ and Jupyter-based control
from the ARM processor, and the RF data converters (DAC and ADC) of
Xilinx RFSoC devices. It will then cover the design of real-time
controller components modeled on the open-source QICK platform,
including pulse generators, digital down-conversion readout chains, and
cycle-accurate timed sequencers. The final week introduces security
topics, including bitstream structure, integrity verification, and the
FPGA security model, to build a foundation for students to develop
security-critical thinking about quantum control hardware. Students are
expected to attend lectures, complete weekly labs, actively read and
discuss relevant research papers, and participate in a checkpoint
demonstration. A quarter-long individual project, culminating in an
integrated controller and a short security analysis, will be part of the
course.