Harnessing the Quantum Zeno Effect in superconducting qubits for particle detection

Conference · Mon Nov 03 04:00:00 EST 2025 · No journal information

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/3000848· OSTI ID:3000848

Seidel, Olivia ^[1]; Sussman, Sara ^[2]; Asaadi, Jonathan ^[1]; Bowring, Daniel ^[2]

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1. Texas U., Arlington
2. Fermilab

Superconducting qubits, originally developed for quantum computing, are emerging as a potentially powerful tool for detecting low-energy particle interactions, such as dark matter and neutrinos. These devices can register energy deposits as small as a few meV, dramatically lowering the detection threshold compared to conventional sensors. However, their deployment in rare-event searches is hampered by a critical and unresolved background: Two-Level Systems (TLSes). TLSes are material defects that can scramble qubit frequencies and coherence times in a way that resembles particle energy deposits. Such false signals can critically limit the sensitivity and extend experimental runtimes for qubit-based sensors by years. This talk introduces a novel method to eliminate TLSes as a background source in superconducting qubit-based detectors. By harnessing the Quantum Zeno Effect (QZE), a well-established quantum phenomenon where frequent observation inhibits system evolution, I will discuss the possibility of “freezing” these TLS defects in place. This effectively suppresses their interference, stabilizes qubit behavior, and opens the door to using TLSes themselves as auxiliary sensors. I have already identified target TLSes and observed early signs of QZE-like dynamics in Fermilab-fabricated devices. The method builds on my existing collaborations at Fermilab’s Quantum Information Testbed (QUIET), with access to low muon flux cryogenic facilities 100 meters underground, control electronics, and expert mentors across multiple institutions. By removing a key bottleneck to superconducting sensor deployment, this research targets advancing the development of a general-purpose technique to enhance sensitivity, reduce false positives, and accelerate discovery in searches for dark matter, neutrinos, and other rare phenomena.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Texas U., Arlington
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: 89243024CSC000002
• OSTI ID: 3000848
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-SLIDES-25-0280-ETD; oai:inspirehep.net:3075532
• Conference Information: Journal Name: No journal information
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English