Solving Dark Matter Detector Mystery Could Boost Quantum Computing
Researchers from the TESSERACT experiment, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, have identified a key source of noise in supersensitive dark matter detectors that also impacts quantum computing stability. Published in Applied Physics Letters, the study reveals that the low-energy excess (LEE) obscuring rare signals originates from vibrational energy bursts within the silicon crystal of the detectors, rather than external electronics or environmental factors. The team found that thicker silicon chips produce significantly more LEE events, suggesting that internal material properties generate quasiparticles that cause decoherence in superconducting qubits. This discovery implies that reducing silicon volume could improve sensor performance and qubit stability. Additionally, the experiment achieved a world-leading energy resolution of 258.5 millielectronvolts using a thinner detector, enhancing the ability to distinguish faint dark matter signals. These findings bridge particle physics and quantum technology, offering crucial insights for engineering more stable quantum computers and advancing the search for light dark matter. The TESSERACT collaboration includes multiple international institutions and plans to install the final detector in France.
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Solving Dark Matter Detector Mystery Could Boost Quantum Computing
Researchers from the TESSERACT experiment, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, have identified a key source of noise in supersensitive dark matter detectors that also impacts quantum computing stability. Published in Applied Physics Letters, the study reveals that the low-energy excess (LEE) obscuring rare signals originates from vibrational energy bursts within the silicon crystal of the detectors, rather than external electronics or environmental factors. The team found that thicker silicon chips produce significantly more LEE events, suggesting that internal material properties generate quasiparticles that cause decoherence in superconducting qubits. This discovery implies that reducing silicon volume could improve sensor performance and qubit stability. Additionally, the experiment achieved a world-leading energy resolution of 258.5 millielectronvolts using a thinner detector, enhancing the ability to distinguish faint dark matter signals. These findings bridge particle physics and quantum technology, offering crucial insights for engineering more stable quantum computers and advancing the search for light dark matter. The TESSERACT collaboration includes multiple international institutions and plans to install the final detector in France.
Berkeley Lab News Center