Ge-based Quantum Sensors for Low-Energy Physics

TL;DR

GeQuLEP is a proposed germanium-based quantum sensor platform designed to detect extremely low-energy events, such as dark matter interactions and solar neutrinos, with unprecedented sensitivity approaching single phonon detection.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum sensing architecture combining germanium crystals and phononic cavities for ultra-low-energy detection in rare-event physics.

Findings

Theoretical detection threshold as low as 0.00745 eV.

Potential to detect low-mass dark matter particles down to keV/c^2.

Enables real-time solar neutrino detection via CEvNS.

Abstract

We present \textbf{GeQuLEP} (Germanium-based Quantum Sensors for Low-Energy Physics), a conceptual design for an advanced quantum sensing platform integrating high-purity germanium (Ge) crystals with engineered phononic crystal cavities. At cryogenic temperatures, these cavities naturally host dipole-bound states, effectively forming quantum dots coupled to radio-frequency quantum point contact (RF-QPC) readout systems. This innovative coupling approach promises ultra-sensitive phonon-mediated charge detection through phonon-induced charge displacement. GeQuLEP is specifically designed to achieve exceptionally low detection thresholds, theoretically enabling single primary phonon sensitivity with anticipated energy depositions as low as \textbf{0.00745~eV}. This unprecedented sensitivity, if realized experimentally, would provide unique access to searches for low-mass dark matter down to the keV/$c^2$ mass range via nuclear and electronic recoils. Additionally, GeQuLEP aims to facilitate the real-time detection of solar \textit{pp} neutrinos through coherent elastic neutrino--nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS). By combining phonon-based quantum transduction with quantum-classical hybrid readout schemes, the GeQuLEP architecture represents a scalable, contact-free phonon spectroscopy design that could significantly advance the capabilities of ultra-low-energy rare-event detection at the quantum limit.