First operation of superconducting qubits as particle detectors

Transmon qubits are among the leading technologies for the development of future quantum computers. However these superconducting devices are sensitive to ionizing radiation, which reduces their coherence time and leads to correlated errors. This study represents the first quantitative estimation of cosmic rays and ambient radiation impact on transmon qubits. In the shielded underground facility at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), errors induced by the interaction of a radioactive source were reconstructed with an efficiency of about 10%. In contrast, in the unshielded above-ground facility at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), cosmic and ambient radiation impacts were detected with an efficiency ranging from 10% to 20% by modifying the acquisition protocol. Lastly, the simultaneous readout of three transmons in coincidence was demonstrated, achieving an event reconstruction efficiency of 90% when the devices were illuminated with an LED.