Quantum-Enhanced Sensing of Axion Dark Matter with a Transmon-Based Single Microwave Photon Counter

Braggio, C.; Balembois, L.; Di Vora, R.; Wang, Z.; Travesedo, J.; Pallegoix, L.; Carugno, G.; Ortolan, A.; Ruoso, G.; Gambardella, U.; D’Agostino, D.; Bertet, P.; Flurin, E.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevX.15.021031

Quantum-Enhanced Sensing of Axion Dark Matter with a Transmon-Based Single Microwave Photon Counter

Journal Article · Mon Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Physical Review. X

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.15.021031· OSTI ID:2563439

Braggio, C.; Balembois, L.; ; ; ; Pallegoix, L.; ; ; ; Gambardella, U.; ; Bertet, P.;

We report an axion dark matter search with a haloscope equipped with a microwave photon counter. The haloscope is a tunable high quality factor three-dimensional microwave cavity placed in a magnetic field. The photon counter, operated cyclically, maps an incoming microwave photon onto the state of a superconducting transmon qubit. The measurement protocol continuously monitors the power emitted by the haloscope cavity as well as the dark count background and enables tuning of the cavity frequency to probe different axion masses. With this apparatus, we enhance by a factor of 20 the search speed that can be reached with quantum-limited linear amplifiers and set a new standard for probing the existence of axions with resonant detectors above 5 GHz.

Published by the American Physical Society 2025

View Journal Article

Research Organization:: INFN, Legnaro; INFN, Naples; INFN, Padua; Padua U.; SPEC, Saclay

Sponsoring Organization:: US Department of Energy; USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: 89243024CSC000002; AC02-07CH11359

OSTI ID:: 2563439

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2446953

Report Number(s):: FERMILAB-PUB-24-0510-SQMS-V; 021031

Journal Information:: Physical Review. X, Journal Name: Physical Review. X Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 15; ISSN PRXHAE; ISSN 2160-3308

Publisher:: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (56)

Triumphs and tribulations of ΛCDM, the double dark theory Primack, J. R. Annalen der Physik, Vol. 524, Issue 9-10 https://doi.org/10.1002/andp.201200077	journal	July 2012
First results of the CAST-RADES haloscope search for axions at 34.67 μeV Álvarez Melcón, A.; Arguedas Cuendis, S.; Baier, J. Journal of High Energy Physics, Vol. 2021, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP10(2021)075	journal	October 2021
A simple solution to the strong CP problem with a harmless axion Dine, Michael; Fischler, Willy; Srednicki, Mark Physics Letters B, Vol. 104, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0370-2693(81)90590-6	journal	August 1981
Can confinement ensure natural CP invariance of strong interactions? Shifman, M. A.; Vainshtein, A. I.; Zakharov, V. I. Nuclear Physics B, Vol. 166, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0550-3213(80)90209-6	journal	April 1980
The landscape of QCD axion models Di Luzio, Luca; Giannotti, Maurizio; Nardi, Enrico Physics Reports, Vol. 870 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physrep.2020.06.002	journal	July 2020
The moment of truth for WIMP dark matter Bertone, Gianfranco Nature, Vol. 468, Issue 7322 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09509	journal	November 2010
Current status of direct dark matter detection experiments Liu, Jianglai; Chen, Xun; Ji, Xiangdong Nature Physics, Vol. 13, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4039	journal	March 2017
Search for Dark Matter Axions with CAST-CAPP Adair, C. M.; Altenmüller, K.; Anastassopoulos, V. Nature Communications, Vol. 13, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33913-6	journal	October 2022
A quantum enhanced search for dark matter axions Backes, K. M.; Palken, D. A.; Kenany, S. Al Nature, Vol. 590, Issue 7845 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03226-7	journal	February 2021
Detecting spins by their fluorescence with a microwave photon counter Albertinale, Emanuele; Balembois, Léo; Billaud, Eric Nature, Vol. 600, Issue 7889 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04076-z	journal	December 2021
Single-electron spin resonance detection by microwave photon counting Wang, Z.; Balembois, L.; Rančić, M. Nature, Vol. 619, Issue 7969 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06097-2	journal	July 2023
Microwave attenuators for use with quantum devices below 100 mK Yeh, Jen-Hao; LeFebvre, Jay; Premaratne, Shavindra Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 121, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4984894	journal	June 2017
Revisiting the detection rate for axion haloscopes Kim, Dongok; Jeong, Junu; Youn, SungWoo Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2020, Issue 03 https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2020/03/066	journal	March 2020
The surface impedance of superconductors and normal metals at high frequencies II. The anomalous skin effect in normal metals Pippard, A. B. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Vol. 191, Issue 1026, p. 385-399 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1947.0122	journal	November 1947
Distinguishing Parity-Switching Mechanisms in a Superconducting Qubit Diamond, S.; Fatemi, V.; Hays, M. PRX Quantum, Vol. 3, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.3.040304	journal	October 2022
Quantum Science and the Search for Axion Dark Matter Sushkov, Alexander O. PRX Quantum, Vol. 4, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.020101	journal	May 2023
Qubit-photon interactions in a cavity: Measurement-induced dephasing and number splitting Gambetta, Jay; Blais, Alexandre; Schuster, D. I. Physical Review A, Vol. 74, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.042318	journal	October 2006
Cavity Attenuators for Superconducting Qubits Wang, Z.; Shankar, S.; Minev, Z. K. Physical Review Applied, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.014031	journal	January 2019
Biaxially Textured YBa2Cu3O7−x Microwave Cavity in a High Magnetic Field for a Dark-Matter Axion Search Ahn, Danho; Kwon, Ohjoon; Chung, Woohyun Physical Review Applied, Vol. 17, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.17.L061005	journal	June 2022
Cyclically Operated Microwave Single-Photon Counter with Sensitivity of 10−22W/Hz Balembois, L.; Travesedo, J.; Pallegoix, L. Physical Review Applied, Vol. 21, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.21.014043	journal	January 2024
Search for invisible axion dark matter of mass m a = 43 μ eV with the QUAX– a γ experiment Alesini, D.; Braggio, C.; Carugno, G. Physical Review D, Vol. 103, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.103.102004	journal	May 2021
Search for Galactic axions with a high- Q dielectric cavity Alesini, D.; Babusci, D.; Braggio, C. Physical Review D, Vol. 106, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.106.052007	journal	September 2022
New results from HAYSTAC’s phase II operation with a squeezed state receiver Jewell, M. J.; Leder, A. F.; Backes, K. M. Physical Review D, Vol. 107, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.107.072007	journal	April 2023
Search for galactic axions with a traveling wave parametric amplifier Di Vora, R.; Lombardi, A.; Ortolan, A. Physical Review D, Vol. 108, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.062005	journal	September 2023
Search for axion dark matter with the QUAX–LNF tunable haloscope Rettaroli, A.; Alesini, D.; Babusci, D. Physical Review D, Vol. 110, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.110.022008	journal	July 2024
Cosmic and local mass density of ‘‘invisible’’ axions Turner, Michael S. Physical Review D, Vol. 33, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.33.889	journal	February 1986
Results of a laboratory search for cosmic axions and other weakly coupled light particles Wuensch, W. U.; De Panfilis-Wuensch, S.; Semertzidis, Y. K. Physical Review D, Vol. 40, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.40.3153	journal	November 1989
Analysis of single-photon and linear amplifier detectors for microwave cavity dark matter axion searches Lamoreaux, S. K.; van Bibber, K. A.; Lehnert, K. W. Physical Review D, Vol. 88, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.035020	journal	August 2013
Results from phase 1 of the HAYSTAC microwave cavity axion experiment Zhong, L.; Al Kenany, S.; Backes, K. M. Physical Review D, Vol. 97, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.97.092001	journal	May 2018
Galactic axions search with a superconducting resonant cavity Alesini, D.; Braggio, C.; Carugno, G. Physical Review D, Vol. 99, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.99.101101	journal	May 2019
Widely Tunable, Nondegenerate Three-Wave Mixing Microwave Device Operating near the Quantum Limit Roch, N.; Flurin, E.; Nguyen, F. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.147701	journal	April 2012
Redefining the Axion Window Di Luzio, Luca; Mescia, Federico; Nardi, Enrico Physical Review Letters, Vol. 118, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.031801	journal	January 2017
First Results from a Microwave Cavity Axion Search at 24 μ eV Brubaker, B. M.; Zhong, L.; Gurevich, Y. V. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 118, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.061302	journal	February 2017
Fluctuations of Energy-Relaxation Times in Superconducting Qubits Klimov, P. V.; Kelly, J.; Chen, Z. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 121, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.090502	journal	August 2018
Piezoelectrically Tuned Multimode Cavity Search for Axion Dark Matter Boutan, C.; Jones, M.; LaRoque, B. H. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 121, Issue 26 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.261302	journal	December 2018
Search for Invisible Axion Dark Matter with a Multiple-Cell Haloscope Jeong, Junu; Youn, SungWoo; Bae, Sungjae Physical Review Letters, Vol. 125, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.221302	journal	November 2020
Searching for Dark Matter with a Superconducting Qubit Dixit, Akash V.; Chakram, Srivatsan; He, Kevin Physical Review Letters, Vol. 126, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.141302	journal	April 2021
Search for Invisible Axion Dark Matter in the 3.3 – 4.2 μ eV Mass Range Bartram, C.; Braine, T.; Burns, E. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 127, Issue 26 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.261803	journal	December 2021
Searching for Invisible Axion Dark Matter with an 18 T Magnet Haloscope Lee, Youngjae; Yang, Byeongsu; Yoon, Hojin Physical Review Letters, Vol. 128, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.241805	journal	June 2022
First Results from the Taiwan Axion Search Experiment with a Haloscope at 19.6 μeV Chang, Hsin; Chang, Jing-Yang; Chang, Yi-Chieh Physical Review Letters, Vol. 129, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.111802	journal	September 2022
Axion Dark Matter Search around 4.55 μeV with Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitskii Sensitivity Yi, Andrew K.; Ahn, Saebyeok; Kutlu, Çağlar Physical Review Letters, Vol. 130, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.071002	journal	February 2023
Extended Axion Dark Matter Search Using the CAPP18T Haloscope Yang, Byeongsu; Yoon, Hojin; Ahn, Moohyun Physical Review Letters, Vol. 131, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.081801	journal	August 2023
Exclusion of Axionlike-Particle Cogenesis Dark Matter in a Mass Window above 100 μ⁢eV Quiskamp, Aaron; McAllister, Ben T.; Altin, Paul Physical Review Letters, Vol. 132, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.031601	journal	January 2024
Coexistence of Nonequilibrium Density and Equilibrium Energy Distribution of Quasiparticles in a Superconducting Qubit Connolly, Thomas; Kurilovich, Pavel D.; Diamond, Spencer Physical Review Letters, Vol. 132, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.217001	journal	May 2024
Experimental Search for Invisible Dark Matter Axions around 22 μeV Kim, Younggeun; Jeong, Junu; Youn, SungWoo Physical Review Letters, Vol. 133, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.051802	journal	July 2024
Weak-Interaction Singlet and Strong CP Invariance Kim, Jihn E. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 43, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.43.103	journal	July 1979
Irreversible Qubit-Photon Coupling for the Detection of Itinerant Microwave Photons Lescanne, Raphaël; Deléglise, Samuel; Albertinale, Emanuele Physical Review X, Vol. 10, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.10.021038	journal	May 2020
Squeezed Vacuum Used to Accelerate the Search for a Weak Classical Signal Malnou, M.; Palken, D. A.; Brubaker, B. M. Physical Review X, Vol. 9, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.9.021023	journal	May 2019
Quantum sensing Degen, C. L.; Reinhard, F.; Cappellaro, P. Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.89.035002	journal	July 2017
History of dark matter Bertone, Gianfranco; Hooper, Dan Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 90, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.90.045002	journal	October 2018
Invisible axion search methods Sikivie, Pierre Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 93, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.93.015004	journal	February 2021
Axion dark matter: What is it and why now? Chadha-Day, Francesca; Ellis, John; Marsh, David J. E. Science Advances, Vol. 8, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj3618	journal	February 2022
Axion dark matter: How to see it? Semertzidis, Yannis K.; Youn, SungWoo Science Advances, Vol. 8, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm9928	journal	February 2022
Direct search for dark matter axions excluding ALP cogenesis in the 63- to 67-μeV range with the ORGAN experiment Quiskamp, Aaron; McAllister, Ben T.; Altin, Paul Science Advances, Vol. 8, Issue 27 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq3765	journal	July 2022
Probing the frontiers of particle physics with tabletop-scale experiments DeMille, David; Doyle, John M.; Sushkov, Alexander O. Science, Vol. 357, Issue 6355 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal3003	journal	September 2017
The Significance of an Excess in a Counting Experiment: Assessing the Impact of Systematic Uncertainties and the Case with a Gaussian Background Vianello, Giacomo The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, Vol. 236, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/aab780	journal	May 2018

Similar Records

Low frequency, 100–600 MHz, searches with axion cavity haloscopes

Journal Article · Thu Feb 15 19:00:00 EST 2024 · Physical Review. D. · OSTI ID:2305756

Rydberg-atom-based single-photon detection for haloscope axion searches

Journal Article · Mon Feb 19 19:00:00 EST 2024 · Physical Review. D. · OSTI ID:2309828

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS

Quantum-Enhanced Sensing of Axion Dark Matter with a Transmon-Based Single Microwave Photon Counter

Citation Formats

References (56)

Similar Records

Related Subjects