Quantum sensing with tunable superconducting qubits: optimization and speed-up

Sensing and metrology are crucial in both fundamental science and practical applications. They meet the constant demand for precise data, enabling more dependable assessments of theoretical models’ validity. Sensors, now a common feature in many fields, play a vital role in applications like gravity imaging, geology, navigation, security, timekeeping, spectroscopy, chemistry, magnetometry, healthcare, and medicine. The advancements in quantum technologies have sparked interest in employing quantum systems as sensors, offering enhanced capabilities and new possibilities. This article describes the optimization of the quantum-enhanced sensing of magnetic fluxes with a Kitaev phase estimation algorithm based on frequency tunable transmon qubits. It provides the optimal flux biasing point for sensors with different qubit transition frequencies and gives an estimation of decoherence rates and achievable sensitivity. The use of 2- and 3-qubit entangled states are compared in simulation with the single-qubit case. The flux sensing accuracy reaches 10 − 8 ⋅ Φ 0 and scales inversely with time, which proves the speed-up of sensing with high ultimate accuracy.