Snowmass 2021: Superconducting Sensor Fabrication Capabilities for HEP Science

TL;DR

Superconducting sensors are vital for high-energy physics experiments, and advancing their fabrication capabilities is crucial for future scientific breakthroughs, especially with the growth of quantum computing.

Contribution

This paper highlights the need for enhanced fabrication capabilities and sustained support for superconducting sensors to enable next-generation high-energy physics research.

Findings

Growth in quantum computing drives demand for advanced sensors

Current fabrication methods are limited and need development

Support across all development stages is essential for progress

Abstract

Superconducting sensors are a key enabling technology for many HEP experiments with advances in sensor capabilities leading directly to expanded science reach. The unique materials and processes required for the fabrication of these sensors makes commercial sourcing impractical in comparison with semiconducting devices. Subsequently, the development and fabrication of new sensors are often performed at academic cleanrooms supported through HEP basic detector research and/or project funds. While this operational model has been successful to date, we are at a turning point in the history of superconducting electronics, as evidenced by the rapid growth in the field of quantum computing, when scale and sophistication of these sensors can lead to significant progress. In order to achieve this progress and meet the needs of the next generations of HEP experiments, continued support of all stages of the superconducting sensors development pipeline is necessary.