Radiation’s Impact on Transmon Qubits: Study Reveals Surprising Results

As scientists continue to push the boundaries of quantum computing, a crucial question arises: can radiation impact the performance of transmon qubits? A recent study by researchers from Gran Sasso Science Institute and others aimed to answer this question by investigating the effects of cosmic rays and ambient radioactivity on these qubits. The findings suggest that radiation-induced events do not significantly impact the performance of transmon qubits in above and underground facilities, but rather are dominated by other noise sources.

Can Radiation Impact Transmon Qubits?

The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Gran Sasso Science Institute, INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Division at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, INFN Sezione di Roma, and Illinois Institute of Technology, aimed to evaluate the impact of radiation on transmon qubits in above and underground facilities. The researchers used a combination of theoretical modeling and experimental data to investigate the effects of cosmic rays and ambient radioactivity on the performance of these qubits.

The study began by comparing the response of a transmon qubit measured initially at the Fermilab SQMS aboveground facility and then at the deep underground Gran Sasso Laboratory. The researchers observed that the average qubit lifetime (T1) was roughly 80 microseconds at both facilities, indicating that the radiation environment did not significantly impact the qubit’s performance.

To further investigate the effects of radiation on the qubits, the team applied a fast decay detection protocol and analyzed the time structure sensitivity and relative rates of triggered events due to radiation versus intrinsic noise. They used gamma sources of variable activity to calibrate the response of the qubit to different levels of radiation in an environment with minimal background radiation.

The results showed that the qubits responded to strong gamma sources, indicating that it was possible to detect particle impacts. However, when comparing above and underground results, the researchers did not observe a difference in radiation-induced events for these sapphire and niobium-based transmon qubits. Instead, they concluded that the majority of these events were not radiation-related and could be attributed to other noise sources, which dominated single-qubit errors in modern transmon qubits.

What is Radiation’s Impact on Transmon Qubits?

The study highlights the importance of understanding the effects of radiation on transmon qubits, as these qubits are sensitive to abrupt energy deposits caused by cosmic rays and ambient radioactivity. The researchers used a combination of theoretical modeling and experimental data to investigate the effects of radiation on the performance of these qubits.

In recent decades, superconducting circuits have emerged as a leading technology explored in the fields of quantum information, 16-photon detectors, and particle detectors. In the past years, several research groups have started investigating the effect of particle interactions on the performance of quantum bits (qubits). There are many studies investigating these potential effects in superconducting qubits.

The study’s findings suggest that radiation-induced events do not significantly impact the performance of transmon qubits in above and underground facilities. Instead, the researchers concluded that the majority of these events were not radiation-related and could be attributed to other noise sources, which dominated single-qubit errors in modern transmon qubits.

How Do Transmon Qubits Respond to Radiation?

The study used a combination of theoretical modeling and experimental data to investigate how transmon qubits respond to radiation. The researchers observed that the average qubit lifetime (T1) was roughly 80 microseconds at both aboveground and underground facilities, indicating that the radiation environment did not significantly impact the qubit’s performance.

To further investigate the effects of radiation on the qubits, the team applied a fast decay detection protocol and analyzed the time structure sensitivity and relative rates of triggered events due to radiation versus intrinsic noise. They used gamma sources of variable activity to calibrate the response of the qubit to different levels of radiation in an environment with minimal background radiation.

The results showed that the qubits responded to strong gamma sources, indicating that it was possible to detect particle impacts. However, when comparing above and underground results, the researchers did not observe a difference in radiation-induced events for these sapphire and niobium-based transmon qubits.

What are the Implications of This Study?

The study’s findings have significant implications for the development of quantum computing technology. The researchers’ conclusion that radiation-induced events do not significantly impact the performance of transmon qubits suggests that these qubits can be used in a variety of environments, including aboveground and underground facilities.

This study also highlights the importance of understanding the effects of radiation on transmon qubits, as these qubits are sensitive to abrupt energy deposits caused by cosmic rays and ambient radioactivity. The researchers’ use of theoretical modeling and experimental data to investigate the effects of radiation on the performance of these qubits provides valuable insights into the behavior of these qubits in different environments.

What’s Next for Transmon Qubits?

The study’s findings suggest that transmon qubits can be used in a variety of environments, including aboveground and underground facilities. However, further research is needed to fully understand the effects of radiation on these qubits and to develop strategies for mitigating the impact of radiation-induced errors.

This study also highlights the importance of continued research into the behavior of transmon qubits in different environments. The researchers’ use of theoretical modeling and experimental data to investigate the effects of radiation on the performance of these qubits provides valuable insights into the behavior of these qubits in different environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of transmon qubits for quantum computing applications. The researchers’ findings suggest that these qubits can be used in a variety of environments, including aboveground and underground facilities, without significant impact from radiation-induced errors. This study also highlights the importance of continued research into the behavior of transmon qubits in different environments to fully understand their potential for quantum computing applications.