Transmon Qubit Modeling and Characterization for Dark Matter Search
This study presents the design, simulation, and experimental characterization of a superconducting transmon qubit circuit prototype for potential applications in dark matter detection experiments. We describe a planar circuit design featuring two non-interacting transmon qubits, one with fixed frequency and the other flux tunable. Finite-element simulations were employed to extract key Hamiltonian parameters and optimize component geometries. The qubit was fabricated and then characterized at 20 mK, allowing for a comparison between simulated and measured qubit parameters. Good agreement was found for transition frequencies and anharmonicities (within 1% and 10% respectively) while coupling strengths exhibited larger discrepancies (30%). We discuss potential causes for measured coherence times falling below expectations (T1 ∼1-2 μs) and propose strategies for future design improvements. Notably, we demonstrate the application of a hybrid 3D-2D simulation approach for energy participation ratio evaluation, yielding a more accurate estimation of dielectric losses. This work represents an important first step in developing planar Quantum Non-Demolition (QND) single-photon counters for dark matter searches, particularly for axion and dark photon detection schemes.
Authors
- Manuel Castellanos-Beltran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6175-9075)
- Rodolfo Carobene (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0579-3017)
- Luca Origo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6342-1430)
- Pietro Elia Campana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1351-9245)
- S. Tocci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5800-5408)
- Stefano Carrazza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0079-6753)
- Alessandro Candido (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1405-3205)
- E. Ferri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1425-3669)
- Hervè Atsè Corti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5335-0042)
- D. Olaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6901-3457)
- P. F. Hopkins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4353-0901)
- Danilo Labranca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5351-0034)
- A. Giachero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0493-695X)
- Leonardo Banchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6324-8754)
- Alex Stephane Piedjou Komnang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2430-0086)
- Angelo Nucciotti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8458-1556)
- M. Borghesi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5854-8894)
- C. Gatti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3676-1787)
- A. D’Elia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6856-7703)
- A. Rettaroli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6080-8843)
- Marco Gobbo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5543-9190)
- Roberto Moretti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5201-5920)
- Andrea Pasquale (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7305-286X)
- M. Faverzani
Institutions
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano Bicocca (IT)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (IT)
- University of Florence (IT)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering
- Published
- 2025-11-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1109/tqe.2025.3633176
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.74
Funders
- Nuclear Physics
- Commissione Scientifica Nazionale 5, Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare