Development of the Quantum Science Center Underground Test Stand (QUIET)

This Statement of Work (SOW) is made between Northwestern University and Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) manger and operator of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL). This document represents an agreement between Northwestern University and FRA in connection with the DOE NQI award for the “Quantum Science Center (QSC)”, one of several research centers established as part of the National Quantum Initiative Act. The Statement of Work deliverables are for the 1-year term of this subcontract. The relevant university tasks will start from receipt of subcontract. A primary goal of QSC is to overcome key roadblocks in quantum state resilience, controllability and scalability of quantum technologies. In particular, the Fermilab effort is focused on the problem of understanding the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation on qubits, quantum sensors and quantum materials. These same sources of ionizing radiation are also known to be a background for dark matter detectors. Hence improved understanding in the role of ionizing radiation on the performance of quantum sensors and qubits will also benefit the development of next generation dark matter detectors. Studying this problem requires the construction of a test stand that is well-shielded from sources of ionizing radiation and noise. Fermilab and Northwestern will construct this test stand, QUIET, in the MINOS near detector hall at Fermilab. The underground location provides shielding from cosmic rays in the form of 300 m.w.e. overburden. QUIET will be modeled after an existing dark matter test stand, named NEXUS, which is located in the same underground hall. NEXUS, the Northwestern Experimental Underground Site at Fermilab, is a detector prototyping and calibration facility that enables accurate calibration of full-size SuperCDMS detectors in a low background environment and prototyping and testing of future detectors. It was jointly designed and built by Fermilab and the same Nor