Speaker
Description
The axion is a leading dark matter candidate which also addresses the Strong CP problem in the Standard Model, but its detection remains challenging due to its extremely weak predicted electromagnetic signals. Superconducting qubits offer a promising solution. Superconducting Quasiparticle-Amplifying Transmons (SQUATs) are designed to be sensitive to single THz (meV) photons by detecting tunneling events through readout of the qubit transition frequency. A key challenge in calibrating these detectors is delivering THz photons into cryogenic environments, as traditional fiber optics absorb THz radiation. To address this, we conducted warm testing of circular copper waveguides to characterize their coupling and transmission properties. Here, we present the findings from our initial tests and outline the readiness of our system for low-temperature operation. If successful, broadband THz photon detection using quantum sensors could mark a major step forward in experimental searches for axions, laying the foundation for future experiments like BREAD and opening new pathways for low-mass dark matter searches.
