We explore a novel strategy for detecting the radiative decay of very weakly interacting particles by leveraging the extreme sensitivity of quantum devices, such as superconducting transmon qubits and trapped ion systems, to faint electromagnetic signals. By modeling the effective electric field induced by the decay photons, we evaluate the response of quantum sensors across two particle physics scenarios: the cosmic neutrino background and two-component dark matter. We assess the discovery potential of these devices and outline the parameter space accessible under current experimental capabilities. Our analysis demonstrates that quantum sensors can probe radiative decays of dark matter candidates using existing technology, while probing neutrino magnetic moments beyond current limits will require scalable quantum architectures with collective enhancement.
We explore a novel strategy for detecting the radiative decay of very weakly interacting particles by leveraging the extreme sensitivity of quantum devices, such as superconducting transmon qubits and trapped ion systems, to faint electromagnetic signals. By modeling the effective electric field induced by the decay photons, we evaluate the response of quantum sensors across two particle physics scenarios: the cosmic neutrino background and two-component dark matter. We assess the discovery potential of these devices and outline the parameter space accessible under current experimental capabilities. Our analysis demonstrates that quantum sensors can probe radiative decays of dark matter candidates using existing technology, while probing neutrino magnetic moments beyond current limits will require scalable quantum architectures with collective enhancement.
Quantum sensing is a rapidly growing approach to probe fundamental physics and explore new phase space for possible new physics with precision and highly sensitive measurements in our quest to understand the deep structure of matter and its interactions. This field uses properties of quantum mechanics in the detectors to go beyond traditional measurement techniques. Key particle physics topics where quantum sensing can play a vital role include neutrino properties, tests of fundamental symmetries (Lorentz invariance and the equivalence principle as well as searches for electric dipole moments and possible variations in fundamental constants), the search for dark matter and testing ideas about the nature of dark energy. Interesting new sensor technologies include atom interferometry, optomechanical devices, and atomic and nuclear clocks including with entanglement. This Perspective explores the opportunities for these technologies in future particle physics experiments, opening new windows on the structure of the Universe.
One of the areas of research of the Superconducting Quantum Systems and Materials (SQMS) center is the application of quantum sensing to fundamental physics searches, demonstrating that quantum sensors can greatly improve the sensitivity of experiments searching for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics, or performing high-precision measurements. Theorists have developed many ideas for BSM physics that would result in interactions that can in principle be detected, but with signals small enough that they haven t been observed yet. In this field, the capability to lower the detector s thermal noise to few or dozens of mK, and to use QIS technologies such as Josephson Parametric Amplifiers and photon counters (in-situ or itinerant) enable us to reach unprecedented sensitivities and faster scan rates. Here is presented an overview of the quantum sensing efforts at SQMS [1], focusing on theoretical advancements and experimental searches for Dark Sector particles (as dark matter candidates and not), gravitational waves, and precision measurements. The experiments conducted, or under preparation, include axion dark matter (DM) [2, 3], dark photon DM searches [4,5], light-shining-through-wall experiments [6], cavity-based searches for high frequency gravitational waves [7], and measurements of the electron magnetic moment [8]. [1] Berlin, A., et al. "Searches for new particles, dark matter, and gravitational waves with SRF cavities." arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.12714 (2022). [2] Giaccone, B., et al. "Design of axion and axion dark matter searches based on ultra high Q SRF cavities." arXiv preprint arXiv:2207.11346 (2022). [3] Braggio, C., et al. "Quantum-enhanced sensing of axion dark matter with a transmon-based single microwave photon counter." arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.02321 (2024). [4] Fan, X., et al. "One-electron quantum cyclotron as a milli-eV dark-photon detector." Physical review letters 129.26 (2022): 261801. [5] Cervantes, R., et al. "Deepest sensitivity to wavelike dark photon dark matter with superconducting radio frequency cavities." Physical Review D 110.4 (2024): 043022. [6] Romanenko, A., et al. "Search for dark photons with superconducting radio frequency cavities." Physical review letters 130.26 (2023): 261801. [7] Berlin, A., et al. "Electromagnetic cavities as mechanical bars for gravitational waves." Physical Review D 108.8 (2023): 084058. [8] Fan, X., et al. "Measurement of the electron magnetic moment." Physical review letters 130.7 (2023): 071801.
Detection mechanisms for low mass bosonic dark matter candidates, such as the axion or hidden photon, leverage potential interactions with electromagnetic fields, whereby the dark matter (of unknown mass) on rare occasion converts into a single photon. Current dark matter searches operating at microwave frequencies use a resonant cavity to coherently accumulate the field sourced by the dark matter and a near standard quantum limited (SQL) linear amplifier to read out the cavity signal. To further increase sensitivity to the dark matter signal, sub-SQL detection techniques are required. Here we report the development of a novel microwave photon counting technique and a new exclusion limit on hidden photon dark matter. We operate a superconducting qubit to make repeated quantum nondemolition measurements of cavity photons and apply a hidden Markov model analysis to reduce the noise to 15.7 dB below the quantum limit, with overall detector performance limited by a residual background of real photons. With the present device, we perform a hidden photon search and constrain the kinetic mixing angle to ε≤1.68×10^{-15} in a band around 6.011 GHz (24.86 μeV) with an integration time of 8.33 s. This demonstrated noise reduction technique enables future dark matter searches to be sped up by a factor of 1,300. By coupling a qubit to an arbitrary quantum sensor, more general sub-SQL metrology is possible with the techniques presented in this Letter.
We propose a direct axion dark matter (DM) search using superconducting transmon quantum bits (qubits) as quantum sensors. With an external magnetic field applied, axion DM generates an oscillating electric field, which causes the excitation of the qubit. Such an excitation can be regarded as a signal of the axion DM. We provide a theoretical consideration of the excitation process of the qubits, taking into account the effects of the shielding cavity surrounding the qubits, and estimate the signal rate for the axion DM detection. We also discuss the enhancement of the DM signal by using cavity resonance and entangled quantum sensors realized by a quantum circuit. Combining these two effects, we can reach the parameter region suggested by QCD axion models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Dark matter is an enduring mystery in our quest to understand the fundamental constituents of our universe. Low mass bosons, such the axion or hidden photon, are compelling dark matter candidates. We leverage their potential interactions with electromagnetic fields, whereby the dark matter (of unknown mass) on rare occasion converts into a single photon, to devise a method of detecting these candidates. Current dark matter searches operating at microwave frequencies use a resonant cavity to coherently accumulate the field sourced by the dark matter and a near standard quantum limited (SQL) linear amplifier to read out the cavity signal. To further increase sensitivity to the dark matter signal and enable future searches, sub-SQL detection techniques are required. In this thesis, I report the development of a novel microwave photon counting technique and a new exclusion limit on hidden photon dark matter. We operate a superconducting qubit to make repeated quantum non-demolition measurements of cavity photons and apply a hidden Markov model analysis to reduce the noise to 15.7 dB below the quantum limit, with overall detector performance limited by a residual background of real photons. With the present device, we perform a hidden photon search and constrain the kinetic mixing angle to less than 1.68 X 10^{-15} in a band around 6.011 GHz (24.86 micro-eV) with an integration time of 8.33 s. This demonstrated noise reduction technique enables future dark matter searches to be sped up by a factor of 1300. By coupling a qubit to an arbitrary quantum sensor, more general sub-SQL metrology is possible with the techniques presented in this work.
Ultralight Majorons are well-motivated dark-matter candidates that can couple to electron spins, generating an oscillating pseudo-magnetic field. We propose a hybrid magnon-qubit haloscope that exploits this interaction to search for Majoron dark matter. In our scheme, the Majoron field resonantly drives the Kittel mode of a ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere, producing a collective magnon response enhanced by the large spin ensemble. The resulting magnon population is transduced to a superconducting transmon qubit through a cavity-mediated dispersive interaction and detected using quantum-nondemolition Ramsey interferometry. Using experimentally demonstrated parameters for magnon-cavity-qubit systems, we derive the Majoron-induced signal, evaluate the projected sensitivity, and analyze the corresponding mass-scan strategy enabled by magnetic-field tuning, benchmarking the projected reach against existing laboratory and astrophysical constraints on the axion/Majoron-electron coupling. Our results establish hybrid magnon-qubit architectures as a promising quantum-sensing platform for searches for Majoron dark matter and, more generally, ultralight bosonic fields coupled to electronic spins.