A research team led by Stanford physicist Amir Safavi-Naeini has successfully recorded quantum jumps in sound for the first time, with findings published in Science. Quantum jumps represent sudden transitions between energy states and have been a core concept in quantum theory since the early 1900s. While researchers demonstrated these jumps in trapped ions in 1986 and photons in 2007, sound presented additional experimental challenges that have now been overcome.
The experiment utilized a mechanical resonator fabricated using chip technology, featuring a critical characteristic: an unusually extended vibration duration of two milliseconds. If scaled to a normal-sized tuning fork, this ringdown time would translate to several hours of continuous vibration. This extended duration provided researchers sufficient opportunity to collect hundreds of measurements and precisely identify the moment when sound energy transitioned from one quantum state to another. The quantum equivalent of a sound unit is called a phonon, representing the coordinated motion of many atoms.
A key challenge addressed in the research involved measuring quantum states without disrupting them. Co-first authors Takuma Makihara and Erik Szakiel developed an approach that coupled the microscopic mechanical resonator to a superconducting qubit, an electrical circuit capable of storing quantum information that also functioned as a detector. The qubit repeatedly monitored the mechanical resonator during its vibration period, determining phonon energy states and enabling researchers to pinpoint precisely when quantum jumps occurred.
The research team identified multiple potential applications for this advancement. In quantum computing, detecting quantum jumps could provide a crucial method for identifying and correcting errors that arise during calculations. The combined resonator and qubit system may also function as a highly sensitive measurement platform, with researchers already collaborating with Caltech to explore detecting and identifying proteins within cells. Beyond specialized quantum applications, the demonstration of precise vibrational control could contribute to improved performance in consumer electronics that rely on sound technology.
The research received funding from multiple government agencies and Amazon Web Services, with support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
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