350 feet underground US lab helps turn qubits into sensors for dark matter research

Underground lab NEXUS where the multiqubit chip was tested.FermiLab A multi-institutional team of scientists used the Northwestern Experimental Underground Site (NEXUS) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory to study bursts of charge across multiple superconducting qubits. This is the first time scientists have measured charge noise in a chip consisting of multiple qubits. In quantum computation, quantum bits or qubits store information. Due to their superpositionary nature, qubits can store large amounts of information at the same time, thereby exponentially increasing computation capacity. However, qubits are also highly sensitive to outside disturbances, which can introduce errors into computations. Superconducting qubits are leading the charge when it comes to building a commercial-scale quantum computer. So, a multi-institutional team of researchers looked at how external disturbances affect them, according to the press release. Cosmic rays and background noise In 2019, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison carried out a similar experiment using the same chip, consisting of four superconducting qubits. An ionizing particle, like a cosmic or gamma ray, while passing through a quantum chip, creates a burst of charge. Since qubits are incredibly sensitive to charge fluctuations, scientists can use them to directly measure such events. In the 2019 experiments, the researchers found that both cosmic rays and gamma rays were responsible for the charge bursts inside the superconducting qubit chip. So, for their recent round of experiments, the scientists chose NEXUS lab to shield the chip from cosmic rays. Using a lead shield surrounding the dilution refrigerator, the researchers measured both readings with the shield open and closed to determine the impact of gamma rays. While the team observed a reduction in charge bursts as expected when the shield was closed, the reduction was smaller than expected, suggesting additional sources of background noise. How does it help? “Maybe there’s some source close to the qubit that produces some gamma rays we don’t know about,” said Grace Bratrud, a researcher at Northwestern University who was involved in the study. “We want to look more closely at those materials to see if they could be producing some radioactivity.” But the qubits’ sensitivity once again suggests using them as sensors that could detect even faint signals, potentially even from dark matter. They could also help in understanding various phenomena in physics. On the quantum computing side, it helps to understand which sources contribute to computational errors and what needs to be considered when developing fault-tolerant computers.

The team intends to increase its observation time to determine whether the trapped charge in the substrate is released over a longer time frame. Additionally, researchers are planning another run of the study at NEXUS, this time using a highly optimized qubit-based sensor. Developed by the SLAC National Laboratory, the sensor is called a superconducting quasiparticle amplifying transmon, or SQUAT. The repeat experiment will help compare how different detection methods handle different energy levels. “These comparisons will lead to new designs where we purposely engineer the amount of response to the environment,” added Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, a professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern University, in the press release. “Having that control will lead to quantum devices optimized to minimize their environmental response for use in quantum computing applications. It will also allow us to maximize it for quantum sensing applications.” The research findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Sign up for freeBy subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and PoliciesYou may unsubscribe at any time.0COMMENTByAmeya PalejaAmeya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.TRENDINGLATEST1US strikes 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels as battle for control of Hormuz intensifies23D-printed metallic glass motor parts could slash energy loss in drones, e-bikes3New frontier: Meta buys Moltbook, the viral social media network for AI agents4Giant 25,000-square-foot robot gym in Germany to train hundreds of humanoid robots5Bell's new 517 mph-speeding aircraft for DARPA's SPRINT program passes design reviewCheck ourSection!See AllBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsSubscribe toToday!Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.Explore NowBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsMore from ScienceSee AllScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyWEAR YOUR GENIUSShop NowJOBSSee AllGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobCheck ourSection!See AllBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsSubscribe toToday!Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.Explore NowBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsMore from ScienceSee AllScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyJOBSSee AllGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobUnderground lab NEXUS where the multiqubit chip was tested.FermiLab A multi-institutional team of scientists used the Northwestern Experimental Underground Site (NEXUS) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory to study bursts of charge across multiple superconducting qubits. This is the first time scientists have measured charge noise in a chip consisting of multiple qubits. In quantum computation, quantum bits or qubits store information. Due to their superpositionary nature, qubits can store large amounts of information at the same time, thereby exponentially increasing computation capacity. However, qubits are also highly sensitive to outside disturbances, which can introduce errors into computations. Superconducting qubits are leading the charge when it comes to building a commercial-scale quantum computer. So, a multi-institutional team of researchers looked at how external disturbances affect them, according to the press release. Cosmic rays and background noise In 2019, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison carried out a similar experiment using the same chip, consisting of four superconducting qubits. An ionizing particle, like a cosmic or gamma ray, while passing through a quantum chip, creates a burst of charge. Since qubits are incredibly sensitive to charge fluctuations, scientists can use them to directly measure such events. In the 2019 experiments, the researchers found that both cosmic rays and gamma rays were responsible for the charge bursts inside the superconducting qubit chip. So, for their recent round of experiments, the scientists chose NEXUS lab to shield the chip from cosmic rays. Using a lead shield surrounding the dilution refrigerator, the researchers measured both readings with the shield open and closed to determine the impact of gamma rays. While the team observed a reduction in charge bursts as expected when the shield was closed, the reduction was smaller than expected, suggesting additional sources of background noise. How does it help? “Maybe there’s some source close to the qubit that produces some gamma rays we don’t know about,” said Grace Bratrud, a researcher at Northwestern University who was involved in the study. “We want to look more closely at those materials to see if they could be producing some radioactivity.” But the qubits’ sensitivity once again suggests using them as sensors that could detect even faint signals, potentially even from dark matter. They could also help in understanding various phenomena in physics. On the quantum computing side, it helps to understand which sources contribute to computational errors and what needs to be considered when developing fault-tolerant computers.

The team intends to increase its observation time to determine whether the trapped charge in the substrate is released over a longer time frame. Additionally, researchers are planning another run of the study at NEXUS, this time using a highly optimized qubit-based sensor. Developed by the SLAC National Laboratory, the sensor is called a superconducting quasiparticle amplifying transmon, or SQUAT. The repeat experiment will help compare how different detection methods handle different energy levels. “These comparisons will lead to new designs where we purposely engineer the amount of response to the environment,” added Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, a professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern University, in the press release. “Having that control will lead to quantum devices optimized to minimize their environmental response for use in quantum computing applications. It will also allow us to maximize it for quantum sensing applications.” The research findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Sign up for freeBy subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and PoliciesYou may unsubscribe at any time.0COMMENTByAmeya PalejaAmeya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.TRENDINGLATEST1US strikes 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels as battle for control of Hormuz intensifies23D-printed metallic glass motor parts could slash energy loss in drones, e-bikes3New frontier: Meta buys Moltbook, the viral social media network for AI agents4Giant 25,000-square-foot robot gym in Germany to train hundreds of humanoid robots5Bell's new 517 mph-speeding aircraft for DARPA's SPRINT program passes design reviewCheck ourSection!See AllBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsSubscribe toToday!Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.Explore NowBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsMore from ScienceSee AllScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyWEAR YOUR GENIUSShop NowJOBSSee AllGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobCheck ourSection!See AllBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsSubscribe toToday!Exclusive content, expert insights and a deeper dive into engineering and tech. No ads, no limits.Explore NowBeyond EarthNASA resets Artemis, but China could still win the race to the MoonScienceGallium nitride microLEDs could unlock ultra-efficient neuromorphic AIFront LinesIran's missile power and Hormuz disruption raise global energy stakesCase StudiesInverse design meets 4D printing in mechanical metamaterialsSpaceThe model that built modern cosmology now faces new testsMore from ScienceSee AllScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyScience1,000x faster computers: ‘Invisible magnets’ could boost speed using light pulsesScienceToxic ‘black rain’ hits Tehran after strikes on oil and water infrastructure in IranScienceFirst proton beams circulate in US test accelerator built to shape future collidersScienceScientists use toxic ‘forever chemicals’ to extract 99% pure battery-grade lithiumScienceScientists reconstruct videos mice watched using brain activity in lab StudyJOBSSee AllGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobGeneral ApplicationRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee JobEditorRemote • RemoteNot specifiedSee Job