Ryoto Takai

We propose an array of Ramsey-type interferometers using $N$ superposition states, $(\vert 0 \rangle + \vert 1\rangle)^{\otimes N}$, as a sensor to detect wave-like dark matter. After exposure to the dark matter wave, which induces coherent qubit transitions, the signal is the imbalance between the numbers of 0 and 1 outcomes. The signal-to-noise ratio in this scheme is proportional to $N α^2$, where $α$ is the coupling of dark matter to the qubits, and thus the sensitivity to the coupling scales as $δα\sim 1 / \sqrt{N}$. For comparison, in the detection scheme based on the Rabi-type transition, $\vert 0 \rangle \to \vert 1\rangle$, this scaling is achieved only when $N$ highly entangled qubits are used. Since the Ramsey-type measurement does not require entangled states, one can consider much larger $N$ by simply placing a large number of qubits within the de Broglie wavelength of the dark matter. We demonstrate that, using trapped-ion qubits in linear Paul traps as the sensor, the projected sensitivity to the coupling matches or surpasses existing laboratory, astrophysical, and cosmological bounds for $N \gtrsim 10^6$-$10^8$. We also evaluate its sensitivity to high-frequency gravitational waves. Our general framework should, in principle, be useful for other quantum sensing platforms.

We propose a quantum-enhanced sensing scheme for the detection of wave-like dark matter and high-frequency gravitational waves using two-dimensional ion crystals in a Penning trap. The protocol employs spin-motion squeezed states to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and enable a super-Heisenberg scaling with respect to the number of ions over a broad parameter range. We analyze the sensitivity of the protocol to representative wave-like dark matter candidates, including the axion-like particle and the dark photon, as well as to high-frequency gravitational waves, taking into account the decoherence and dephasing of the ion spins. Our results indicate that two-dimensional ion crystals and this new protocol provide a promising platform for probing previously unexplored parameter space in searches for light dark matter and high-frequency gravitational waves.

A detection scheme is explored for light dark matter, such as axion dark matter or dark photon dark matter, using a Paul ion trap system. We first demonstrate that a qubit, constructed from the ground and first excited states of vibrational modes of ions in a Paul trap, can serve as an effective sensor for weak electric fields due to its resonant excitation. As a consequence, a Paul ion trap allows us to search for weak electric fields induced by light dark matter with masses around the neV range. Furthermore, we illustrate that an entangled qubit system involving $N$ ions can enhance the excitation rate by a factor of $N^2$. The sensitivities of the Paul ion trap system to axion-photon coupling and gauge kinetic mixing can reach previously unexplored parameter space.