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Highly sensitive detection of single microwave photons with coherent quantum network of superconducting qubits for searching galactic axions

Project description

Breakthrough method of detecting low-energy microwave photons

Detecting single photons at the microwave frequency range is important in the search for axion dark matter, quantum computing and metrology applications. The EU-funded SUPERGALAX project proposes a novel approach for the acquisition of extremely low-energy microwave signals. Researchers will fabricate and explore the dynamics of coherent quantum networks comprising a large amount of strongly interacting superconducting qubits – transmons and flux qubits. The team expect that the measurement sensitivity of their superconducting network detector will reach the Heisenberg limit – the standard limit on the precision with which a quantum measurement can be carried out. Manipulating and measuring individual photons at particularly low microwave frequencies will aid in the detection of hypothetical dark-matter axions, making information processing more efficient.

Objective

Detection of single photons in the microwave range has a number of applications ranging from galactic dark matter axions searches to quantum computing and metrology. We propose a novel approach to acquisition of extremely low energy microwave signals (~1 GHz), based on the general concept of a passive quantum detection. For such highly sensitive detector (quantum antenna) the key novel concept we intend to use is the coherent quantum network composed of a large amount of strongly interacting superconducting qubits embedded in a low dissipative superconducting resonator. We will fabricate and explore the dynamics of coherent quantum networks based on two types of superconducting qubits: transmons and flux qubits. A spatially distributed network of superconducting qubits interacting off-resonance with the incoming radiation, shows the collective ac Stark effect that can be measured even in the limit of single photon counting. The interaction of the signal with the collective quantum states occurring in the network of superconducting qubits has the fundamental character of a quantum non-demolition measurement, whereby the quantum states of the signal and the collective states of qubits become gradually entangled. In particular, by employment of the network of large number of qubits (N) and utilization of a collective mode established in the network, we expect to exceed the standard quantum limit and reach the so-called Heisenberg limit of sensitivity which is proportional to 1/N instead of ~1/√N in case of N non directly interacting qubits. Assessment of the progress will be done by testing arrays with increasing number of superconducting qubits by using complementary experiments with different single photon sources. The feasibility of the superconducting network detector for galactic dark matter axions search will be finaly tested by axion conversion experiment in a magnetic field.

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Keywords

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

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Coordinator

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 424 348,75
Address
PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7
00185 Roma
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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.

€ 424 348,75

Participants (6)

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