Heterodyne detection in measurement of transmon qubit state

Scaling quantum computers to large sizes requires the implementation of many parallel qubit readouts. Here we present an ultrastable superconducting-qubit readout method using the multi-tone self-phase-referenced Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique, originally developed for use with optical cavities. In this work, we benchmark PDH readout of a single transmon qubit, using room-temperature heterodyne detection of all tones to reconstruct the PDH signal. We demonstrate that PDH qubit readout is insensitive to microwave phase drift, displaying $0.73^\circ$ phase stability over 2 hours, and capable of single-shot readout in the presence of phase errors exceeding the phase shift induced by the qubit state. We show that the PDH sideband tones do not cause unwanted measurement-induced state transitions for a transmon qubit, leading to a potential signal enhancement of at least $14$ ~dB.Scaling quantum computers to large sizes requires the implementation of many parallel qubit readouts. Here we present an ultrastable superconducting-qubit readout method using the multi-tone self-phase-referenced Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique, originally developed for use with optical cavities. In this work, we benchmark PDH readout of a single transmon qubit, using room-temperature heterodyne detection of all tones to reconstruct the PDH signal. We demonstrate that PDH qubit readout is insensitive to microwave phase drift, displaying $0.73^\circ$ phase stability over 2 hours, and capable of single-shot readout in the presence of phase errors exceeding the phase shift induced by the qubit state. We show that the PDH sideband tones do not cause unwanted measurement-induced state transitions for a transmon qubit, leading to a potential signal enhancement of at least $14$~dB.

quant-pharXiv:2512.03138Physical Review LettersDec 4, 20250 citations

fabrecation and measurement of transmon qubit

Yulin Ma

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 6, 20181 citation

Quantum measurement in action with the transmon qubit

Michael Hatridge, Shyam Shankar, Flavius Schackert +7 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyFeb 28, 20120 citations

Phase statistics of a single qubit emission as a direct probe of its coherence

A. Sultanov, E. Mutsenik, L. Kaczmarek +4 more

The emission of photon from an individual atom encodes the phase of its initialized quantum state. Using single-shot heterodyne detection, we measure the phase distribution of the emission from a superconducting transmon qubit in an open waveguide configuration and track its evolution over time. We demonstrate that the presence of a quantum superposition is encoded in the phase statistics of the emission and remains resolvable despite a high noise level. These phase statistics serve as a quantitative probe of the qubit coherence. The decay of the emission envelope with increasing integration time reveals the energy relaxation rate of the emitted wavepacket, while phase distribution broadening tracks pure dephasing processes. We thereby establish a direct link between the decoherence dynamics of an open quantum system and the statistical properties of its radiated field.The emission of photon from an individual atom encodes the phase of its initialized quantum state. Using single-shot heterodyne detection, we measure the phase distribution of the emission from a superconducting transmon qubit in an open waveguide configuration and track its evolution over time. We demonstrate that the presence of a quantum superposition is encoded in the phase statistics of the emission and remains resolvable despite a high noise level. These phase statistics serve as a quantitative probe of the qubit coherence. The decay of the emission envelope with increasing integration time reveals the energy relaxation rate of the emitted wavepacket, while phase distribution broadening tracks pure dephasing processes. We thereby establish a direct link between the decoherence dynamics of an open quantum system and the statistical properties of its radiated field.

quant-pharXiv:2603.28433Mar 31, 20260 citations

Coherent qubit measurement in cavity-transmon quantum systems

Massimo Porrati B, Seth Putterman

A measurement of the time between quantum jumps implies the capability to measure the next jump. During the time between jumps the quantum system is not evolving in a closed or unitary manner. While the wave function maintains phase coherence it evolves according to a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian. So under null measurement the timing of the next quantum jump can change by very many orders of magnitude when compared to rates obtained by multiplying lifetimes with occupation probabilities obtained via unitary transformation. The theory developed in 1987 for atomic fluorescence is here extended to transitions in transmon qubits. These systems differ from atoms in that they are read out with a harmonic cavity whose resonance is determined by the state of the qubit. We extend our analysis of atomic fluorescence to this infinite level system by treating the cavity as a quantum system. We find that next photon statistics is highly nonexponential and when implemented will enable faster readout, such as on timescales shorter than the decay time of the cavity. Commonly used heterodyne measurements are applied on timescales longer than the cavity lifetime. The overlap between the next photon theory and the theory of heterodyne measurement which are described according to the stochastic Schr\"odinger equation is elucidated. In the limit of large dispersion the intrinsic error for next jump detection, at short time, tends to zero. Whereas for short-time dyne detection the error remains finite for all values of dispersion.A measurement of the time between quantum jumps implies the capability to measure the next jump. During the time between jumps the quantum system is not evolving in a closed or unitary manner. While the wave function maintains phase coherence it evolves according to a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian. So under null measurement the timing of the next quantum jump can change by very many orders of magnitude when compared to rates obtained by multiplying lifetimes with occupation probabilities obtained via unitary transformation. The theory developed in 1987 for atomic fluorescence is here extended to transitions in transmon qubits. These systems differ from atoms in that they are read out with a harmonic cavity whose resonance is determined by the state of the qubit. We extend our analysis of atomic fluorescence to this infinite level system by treating the cavity as a quantum system. We find that next photon statistics is highly nonexponential and when implemented will enable faster readout, such as on timescales shorter than the decay time of the cavity. Commonly used heterodyne measurements are applied on timescales longer than the cavity lifetime. The overlap between the next photon theory and the theory of heterodyne measurement which are described according to the stochastic Schr\"odinger equation is elucidated. In the limit of large dispersion the intrinsic error for next jump detection, at short time, tends to zero. Whereas for short-time dyne detection the error remains finite for all values of dispersion.

arXiv:2112.09272Physical Review AJun 22, 20230 citations

Quantum effects and optimization of heterodyne detection

Michael Austin Johnson, Charles Hard Townes

Optics CommunicationsMay 1, 20007 citations

0.73^\circ

phase stability over 2 hours, and capable of single-shot readout in the presence of phase errors exceeding the phase shift induced by the qubit state. We show that the PDH sideband tones do not cause unwanted measurement-induced state transitions for a transmon qubit, leading to a potential signal enhancement of at least

14

~dB.