Observing the Stages Toward the Quantum Zeno Effect in Superconducting Qubits: Theory (1/2)

The effect of measurements on quantum systems is of fundamental importance in quantum physics. At its core is the deterministic evolution of unobserved systems versus the random evolution induced by measurements. For instance, an unobserved driven two-level system undergoes Rabi oscillations, while under strong measurements the system enters the Quantum Zeno regime, where the system is frozen in its eigenstates with occasional quantum jumps [1].

Recent theoretical work predicts that increasing the measurement strength leads not to a gradual transition between these regimes but to a cascade of sudden transitions in the system dynamics [2].

Here, we present our progress toward experimentally observing these transitions using superconducting qubits embedded in a microwave cavity.

[1] Minev, Z., Mundhada, S., Shankar, S. et al. To catch and reverse a quantum jump mid-flight. Nature 570, 200–204 (2019).

[2 ] Kyrylo Snizhko, Parveen Kumar et Alessandro Romito. Quantum zeno effect appears in stages. Physical Review Research, 2, 2020.