Capacitance Matrix (C)

Capacitance outputs are the main Q3D bridge into transmon energy, coupling,

detuning, and readout design.

#

Parameter

Symbol / Unit

Extraction Method

Typical Q3D Value

Ideal / Optimal

Good Range

Worst Case

Why It Matters

Key Design Note

15

Qubit Self-Capacitance (C_Sigma)

C_Sigma / fF

Q3D electrostatic solve; Maxwell capacitance matrix

60 – 100 fF

60 – 100 fF (transmon shunting)

40 – 200 fF

< 10 fF or > 500 fF

Sets charging energy Ec = e²/2C_Σ; large C_Sigma → transmon regime →

exponentially reduced charge noise

C_Sigma = Σ|C_ij| from Maxwell matrix; target Ej/Ec = 50–80 for optimal

transmon performance

16

Readout Resonator Capacitance (C_r)

C_r / fF

Q3D capacitance matrix + HFSS eigenmode simulation

200 – 500 fF

200 – 500 fF (λ/4 CPW)

100 – 600 fF

< 50 or > 1 pF

Resonator mode capacitance sets frequency: ω_r = 1/√(L_r C_r); must target

6.5–8 GHz window

Combined with Q_ext sets readout bandwidth κ = ω_r/Q_ext; trade-off between

speed and SNR

17

Qubit–Resonator Coupling Cap (C_g)

C_g / fF

Q3D Maxwell matrix off-diagonal C_12 between qubit island and resonator

1 – 10 fF

1 – 10 fF (dispersive limit)

0.5 – 15 fF

< 0.1 or > 50 fF

Sets coupling g = C_g/(2C_Σ)·√(ω_q ω_r/L_r C_r); must stay dispersive (g ≪

qubit–resonator detuning)

g / 2pi target 50–150 MHz; too large → strong coupling regime; Purcell decay

∝ (g/Δ)² × κ

18

Qubit–Qubit Coupling Cap (C_J)

C_J / fF

Q3D full capacitance matrix between qubit islands

0.5 – 5 fF

0.5 – 5 fF (tunable coupler)

0.2 – 10 fF

< 0.05 or > 30 fF

Drives direct transverse coupling J; residual C_J causes always-on ZZ unless

tunable coupler used

Modern heavy-hex lattice uses tunable couplers to cancel residual ZZ to

< 10 kHz

19

Pad-to-Ground Parasitic Cap

C_pad / fF

Q3D with ground plane mesh

< 5 fF per pad

< 5 fF (small footprint)

1 – 20 fF

> 50 fF

Unintended pad-to-ground capacitance shifts qubit frequency from design

target

Each 1 fF of parasitic shifts f_qubit by ~10–30 MHz; critical to include in

Hamiltonian model

20

Trace Mutual Capacitance (C_ij)

C_ij / fF

Q3D electrostatic solve off-diagonal extraction

< 1 fF (separated lines)

< 1 fF

1 – 5 fF

> 20 fF

Capacitive coupling between control lines causes microwave crosstalk in

drive and readout paths

Overlapping traces on adjacent layers is the primary source; add ground

shield layer to suppress