Max Schaefer

Research

Max's research focuses on enhancing quantum computing hardware by mitigating the impact of two-level systems (TLS), which are microscopic defects causing noise and limiting qubit performance. Building on his background in physics from Yale University—where he developed bias-preserving gates for Kerr-cat qubits and explored quantum simulations for chemical systems—he now investigates strategies to minimize TLS-related decoherence. His work aims to significantly extend qubit lifetimes and fidelity, enabling more robust quantum simulations and practical quantum information processing applications.

Max grew up in the suburbs of Stuttgart, Germany, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from ETH Zurich. For his master’s thesis, he researched TLS mitigation in Prof. Oskar Painter’s group at Caltech. Max then joined Yale University to work on Kerr-cat qubits, focusing on the implementation of a bias-preserving CNOT gate, investigating effects that limit cat qubit lifetimes, and studying applications to analog simulations of chemistry. At UCSB, his interests revolve around TLS and ways to reduce their impact. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing soccer and skiing in winter.

Selected Publications

1. Dutta, R., Cabral, D. G. A., Lyu, N., Vu, N. P., Wang, Y., Allen, B., Dan, X., Cortiñas, R. G., Schäfer, M., et al. (2024). Simulating Chemistry on Bosonic Quantum Devices. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation.

2. Chen, M., Owens, J. C., Putterman, H., Schäfer, M., & Painter, O. (2024). Phonon Engineering of Atomic-Scale Defects in Superconducting Quantum Circuits. Science Advances.

3. de Albornoz, A. C. C., Cortiñas, R. G., Schäfer, M., Frattini, N. E., Allen, B., et al. (2024). Oscillatory Dissipative Tunneling in an Asymmetric Double-Well Potential. arXiv:2409.13113.

4. Cabral, D. G. A., Khazaei, P., Allen, B. C., Videla, P. E., Schäfer, M., Cortiñas, R. G., et al. (2024). A Roadmap for Simulating Chemical Dynamics on a Parametrically Driven Bosonic Quantum Device. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

5. Su, Q., Schäfer, M., Cortiñas, R. G., & Puri, S. (2024). An Experimentally Motivated Bias-Preserving CNOT Gate for Kerr-Cat Qubits. Bulletin of the American Physical Society.

6. Schäfer, M., Cortiñas, R., Frattini, N., Su, Q., Puri, S., & Devoret, M. (2024). Experimental Progress Towards a Bias-Preserving CNOT Gate Between Two Kerr-Cat Qubits. Bulletin of the American Physical Society.