Dispersive readout of the transmon qubit in circuit QED is known to lose its quantum non-demolition character at small to moderate measurement drive amplitudes. This phenomenon is understood to originate from Laundau-Zener transitions at accidental multi-photon resonances, where $n$ drive photons can promote the transmon by $m$ levels. This interpretation has been shown to be in agreement with experiments characterizing the dispersive readout of a single transmon. The impact of these measurement-induced state transition (MIST) of a transmon embedded in a multi-qubit chip, however, remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the presence of other components, such as qubits and couplers, can affect the MIST threshold of a measured transmon. To arrive at these results, we present a general method to characterize measurement-induced transition when the qubit under readout is coupled to other circuit elements, a ubiquitous situation in circuit QED-based quantum processors. As an example, we consider the case of two transmon qubits, and we show that the spectator qubit can be impacted by the measurement-induced transition of the readout qubit and, conversely, that the presence of the spectator qubit can lower the MIST threshold of the readout qubit. Finally, we explore how adding a coupler mode between the two qubits further modifies these effects.Dispersive readout of the transmon qubit in circuit QED is known to lose its quantum non-demolition character at small to moderate measurement drive amplitudes. This phenomenon is understood to originate from Laundau-Zener transitions at accidental multi-photon resonances, where $n$ drive photons can promote the transmon by $m$ levels. This interpretation has been shown to be in agreement with experiments characterizing the dispersive readout of a single transmon. The impact of these measurement-induced state transition (MIST) of a transmon embedded in a multi-qubit chip, however, remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the presence of other components, such as qubits and couplers, can affect the MIST threshold of a measured transmon. To arrive at these results, we present a general method to characterize measurement-induced transition when the qubit under readout is coupled to other circuit elements, a ubiquitous situation in circuit QED-based quantum processors. As an example, we consider the case of two transmon qubits, and we show that the spectator qubit can be impacted by the measurement-induced transition of the readout qubit and, conversely, that the presence of the spectator qubit can lower the MIST threshold of the readout qubit. Finally, we explore how adding a coupler mode between the two qubits further modifies these effects.

quant-pharXiv:2606.05010Jun 4, 20260 citations

Dynamics in the Read-Out Process of the Superconducting Flux-Qubit

Hayato Nakano, Hideaki Takayanagi

Journal of the Physical Society of JapanJan 3, 20033 citations

Millimeter Wave Readout of a Superconducting Qubit

Akash V. Dixit, Zachary L. Parrott, Dennis Chunikhin +3 more

Millimeter waves are emerging as an enabling technology for connecting and enhancing different quantum platforms such as Rydberg atoms, optomechanics, and superconducting qubits. In this work, we explore the interaction between millimeter wave photons and conventional transmon qubits, specifically for qubit readout. We study a circuit quantum electrodynamic (cQED) system consisting of a millimeter wave cavity at $ω_r = 2π\times 34.7$ GHz and a transmon qubit at $ω_q = 2π\times 3.1$ GHz coupled at rate $g = 2π\times 1.3$ . With such a large detuning between cavity and qubit, $ω_r/ω_q > 10$ , we are able to suppress drive induced unwanted resonant state transitions, enabling strong drives for qubit readout. We measure no resonant state transitions even when driving with more than $100$ photons and read out the qubit state with more than $100$ photons to achieve a measurement fidelity greater than $99\%$ without the aid of a quantum limited amplifier.Millimeter waves are emerging as an enabling technology for connecting and enhancing different quantum platforms such as Rydberg atoms, optomechanics, and superconducting qubits. In this work, we explore the interaction between millimeter wave photons and conventional transmon qubits, specifically for qubit readout. We study a circuit quantum electrodynamic (cQED) system consisting of a millimeter wave cavity at $ω_r = 2π\times 34.7$ GHz and a transmon qubit at $ω_q = 2π\times 3.1$ GHz coupled at rate $g = 2π\times 1.3$. With such a large detuning between cavity and qubit, $ω_r/ω_q > 10$, we are able to suppress drive induced unwanted resonant state transitions, enabling strong drives for qubit readout. We measure no resonant state transitions even when driving with more than $100$ photons and read out the qubit state with more than $100$ photons to achieve a measurement fidelity greater than $99\%$ without the aid of a quantum limited amplifier.

quant-pharXiv:2603.13837Mar 17, 20260 citations

Beyond the transmon: A new generation of superconducting qubits

David Schuster

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 5, 20190 citations

The Pound-Drever-Hall Method for Superconducting-Qubit Readout

Ibukunoluwa Adisa, Won Chan Lee, Kevin C. Cox +1 more

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

Parametrically induced readout of a superconducting qubit

Steven Touzard, Angela Kou, Alexander Grimm +6 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 5, 20180 citations

n

drive photons can promote the transmon by

m

levels. This interpretation has been shown to be in agreement with experiments characterizing the dispersive readout of a single transmon. The impact of these measurement-induced state transition (MIST) of a transmon embedded in a multi-qubit chip, however, remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that the presence of other components, such as qubits and couplers, can affect the MIST threshold of a measured transmon. To arrive at these results, we present a general method to characterize measurement-induced transition when the qubit under readout is coupled to other circuit elements, a ubiquitous situation in circuit QED-based quantum processors. As an example, we consider the case of two transmon qubits, and we show that the spectator qubit can be impacted by the measurement-induced transition of the readout qubit and, conversely, that the presence of the spectator qubit can lower the MIST threshold of the readout qubit. Finally, we explore how adding a coupler mode between the two qubits further modifies these effects.

ω_r = 2π\times 34.7

GHz and a transmon qubit at

ω_q = 2π\times 3.1

GHz coupled at rate

g = 2π\times 1.3

. With such a large detuning between cavity and qubit,

ω_r/ω_q > 10

, we are able to suppress drive induced unwanted resonant state transitions, enabling strong drives for qubit readout. We measure no resonant state transitions even when driving with more than

100

photons and read out the qubit state with more than

100

photons to achieve a measurement fidelity greater than

99\%

without the aid of a quantum limited amplifier.

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.