Scalable architecture for quantum information processing with superconducting flux qubits based on purely longitudinal interactions

We devise a quantum register based on superconducting flux qubits that circumvents the impediments posed by the presence of fixed interactions. We describe a coupling scheme wherein two physical qubits are coupled to a third which acts as a coupler via their longitudinal degree of freedom (i.e., σz). This approach provides a solution to several issues such as residual interactions between physical qubits, deteriorations of the rotating wave approximation (RWA), and correlated errors, thereby expanding the opportunities for capitalizing on the large coupling strengths achievable with these systems.