Project description
Ultra-sensitive thermal detectors redefine quantum signal detection
Understanding and controlling quantum systems requires tools that can detect even the faintest signals, such as single microwave photons. These photons that carry extremely low energy are important for quantum technologies but remain difficult to detect with current methods. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SUGER-BOL project plans to design nano-bolometers using silicon-germanium heterostructures. These advanced thermal detectors operate at ultra-low temperatures and can sense minimal energy changes with exceptional precision. Integrating these bolometers with germanium qubits, the proposed research aims to push detection sensitivity beyond current limits. If successful, these efforts could transform how qubits are read and pave the way for new experiments in quantum thermodynamics and circuit quantum electrodynamic architectures.
Objective
Detecting microwave radiation, down to the single photon level, is a central challenge in modern quantum technologies. In recent years, a promising route has been envisioned, largely inspired by an ubiquitous technique in high-energy photon detection: bolometry. Its principle relies on energy dissipation of incident photons in a thermal detector, the temperature of which is monitored. This calorimetric technique allows for single photon detection in the infrared band or above, but its application to the microwave domain is challenging, since individual photons carry orders of magnitude less energy. However, superconducting nanoscale thermal detectors at millikelvin temperatures have recently shown their great potential for sensing extremely low radiation signals, as well as small instantaneous energy releases. Although still challenging at present, considering the calorimetric detection of single microwave photons emitted by a qubit is within reach. A very recent work demonstrated the single-shot read out of a qubit state, by measuring in situ the magnitude of the readout microwave signal, using a superconducting bolometer.
In this project, the researcher will develop and measure nano-bolometers based on silicon-germanium heterostructures, and infer limiting factors in their sensitivity. These bolometers will be co-integrated with germanium qubits to benchmark their performances as compared to standard dispersive detection schemes.
The researcher will also push these detectors' sensitivity beyond the state of the art, with the final goal to detect single microwave photons. This will allow for wide-ranging and groundbreaking applications, including alternative qubit readout schemes but also quantum thermodynamics experiments in circuit-QED architectures.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware quantum computers
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics superconductivity
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
38031 GRENOBLE CEDEX 1
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.