- Jan. 22, 2024, 2:00 pm US/Central
- Curia II
- Roger Romani, U.C. Berkeley
- Host: Dylan Temples, dtemples@fnal.gov
Abstract: Dark matter direct detection experiments using cryogenic calorimeters see unexplained bursts of energy in their phonon and sensor systems at low energies, a background often called the Low Energy Excess (LEE). Simultaneously, superconducting quantum bits decohere at much higher than expected rates due to unexplained bursts of quasiparticles in their superconductors. Combined with the fact that the rate of these unexplained events decreases with time, the high degree of similarities between systems designed for sensing and for computation suggests that a common class of background events is being observed. In my talk, I will discuss the growing evidence that the relaxation of thermally induced mechanical stress is responsible for both excess events in dark matter experiments, and for excess decoherence in superconducting qubits.