Requirements and Challenges of a Measurement Apparatus for Quantum Computer Operation

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the methods and tools used to control and measure superconducting qubits in state-of-the-art quantum processors. First, the fundamentals of quantum processors that use superconducting qubits are introduced to familiarize the readers with the basic terminology and help them easily grasp the essential concepts. Next, the most common measurement methods and related equipment are presented, including control hardware, signal sources and digital waveform recorders/analyzers. The implementation of gates for computation and the methods for readout operations are then discussed to demonstrate the challenges faced and the performance achievable with state-of-the-art technology.