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FIREQ: FPGA Instrumentation for Readout and Qubit control

arXiv
Authors: Giuseppe La Capra, Fabio Calabrese, Giorgio D'Amico, Christian Conti, Andrea De Simone, Deborah Volpe, Angelo Nucciotti, Roldolfo Carobene, Claudio Gatti, Andrea Giachero, Fabrizio Riente

Year

2026

Paper ID

76172

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

208

Citations

N/A

Abstract

We present FIREQ (FPGA Instrumentation for Readout and Qubit control), an open-source RFSoC-based framework for the control and readout of superconducting qubits. FIREQ combines a modular AXI-compliant firmware architecture with a PYNQ-based software stack designed to support extensible hardware integration, deterministic experiment timing, and low-overhead execution of repeated calibration and characterization workflows. The firmware implements direct RF synthesis and acquisition, trigger-based sequencing, programmable pulse generation, frequency-multiplexed readout, and memory-efficient acquisition and waveform buffering. The software adopts a client-server architecture with streamed data transfer and dependency-aware configuration updates to reduce host-device and reconfiguration overhead during parameter sweeps. On an AMD Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC ZCU216, FIREQ generates RF pulses up to 9.3 GHz with a pulse-duration resolution of 107 ps and an event-timing resolution of 1.7 ns. FPGA resource utilization is compared with representative open-source RFSoC control frameworks, showing a low BRAM footprint while retaining full-rate I/Q generation and acquisition. The RF output is characterized in terms of phase noise, noise spectral density, and inter-channel timing skew. End-to-end operation is validated on a superconducting qubit through resonator spectroscopy, Rabi, Ramsey, and relaxation measurements, yielding T1 = 6.94 us and T2* = 13.50 us. FIREQ can therefore be used both as a qubit-control platform and as an experimental environment for evaluating alternative control and readout IP architectures.

Why This Paper Matters

  • This paper contributes to the Superconducting Qubits research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
  • It adds a 2026 reference point for readers tracking recent quantum research.
  • We present FIREQ (FPGA Instrumentation for Readout and Qubit control), an open-source RFSoC-based framework for the control and readout of superconducting qubits.

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