About

Gerald Gabrielse is a Professor of Physics at Northwestern University, affiliated with the Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE). His research focuses on quantum physics, particularly in the areas related to quantum information science and engineering. As a member of the affiliated faculty, he contributes to the university's efforts in advancing quantum technologies and understanding fundamental quantum phenomena.

Research topics

• Physics
• Nuclear physics
• Quantum mechanics
• Optics
• Atomic physics
• Materials science
• Condensed matter physics
• Optoelectronics

Selected publications

• Data and CAD for ACME III cryogenic buffer gas beam (CBGB) source load-lock system

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-04-14

  otherOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Data and CAD for ACME III cryogenic buffer gas beam (CBGB) source load-lock system

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-04-14

  otherOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Data and CAD for load-lock system for ACME III ThO CBGB

  Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-04-13

  otherOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Measured lepton magnetic moments

  Elsevier eBooks · 2026-01-01

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A cryogenic buffer gas beam source with in-situ ablation target replacement

  ArXiv.org · 2025-05-16

  preprintOpen access

  The design and performance of a cryogenic buffer gas beam (CBGB) source with a load-lock system is presented. The ACME III electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) search experiment uses this source to produce a beam of cold, slow thorium monoxide (ThO) molecules. A key feature of the apparatus is its capability to replace ablation targets without interrupting vacuum or cryogenic conditions, increasing the average signal in the eEDM search. The source produces approximately $1.3 \times 10^{11}$ ground-state ThO molecules per pulse, with a rotational temperature of $4.8$ K, molecular beam solid angle of $0.31$ sr, and forward velocity of $200$ m/s. These parameters match the performance of traditional sources that require time-consuming thermal cycles for target replacement. A long-term yield improvement of about 40% is achieved when the load-lock system is used to replace targets biweekly.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Search for ultralight bosonic dark matter using two optical cavities

  2025-03-19

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Highly excited electron cyclotron for QCD axion and dark-photon detection

  Physical review. D/Physical review. D. · 2025-04-16 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  We propose using highly excited cyclotron states of a trapped electron to detect meV axion and dark-photon dark matter, marking a significant improvement over our previous proposal and demonstration [One-electron quantum cyclotron as a milli-ev dark-photon detector, .]. When the axion mass matches the cyclotron frequency <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><a:msub><a:mi>ω</a:mi><a:mi>c</a:mi></a:msub></a:math>, the cyclotron state is resonantly excited, with a transition probability proportional to its initial quantum number, <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><c:msub><c:mi>n</c:mi><c:mi>c</c:mi></c:msub></c:math>. The sensitivity is enhanced by taking <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><e:mrow><e:msub><e:mrow><e:mi>n</e:mi></e:mrow><e:mrow><e:mi>c</e:mi></e:mrow></e:msub><e:mo>∼</e:mo><e:msup><e:mrow><e:mn>10</e:mn></e:mrow><e:mrow><e:mn>6</e:mn></e:mrow></e:msup><e:msup><e:mrow><e:mo stretchy="false">(</e:mo><e:mfrac><e:mrow><e:mn>0.1</e:mn><e:mtext> </e:mtext><e:mtext> </e:mtext><e:mi>meV</e:mi></e:mrow><e:mrow><e:msub><e:mrow><e:mi>ω</e:mi></e:mrow><e:mrow><e:mi>c</e:mi></e:mrow></e:msub></e:mrow></e:mfrac><e:mo stretchy="false">)</e:mo></e:mrow><e:mrow><e:mn>2</e:mn></e:mrow></e:msup></e:mrow></e:math>. By optimizing key experimental parameters, we minimize the required averaging time for cyclotron detection to <i:math xmlns:i="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><i:msub><i:mi>t</i:mi><i:mi>ave</i:mi></i:msub><i:mo>∼</i:mo><i:msup><i:mn>10</i:mn><i:mrow><i:mo>−</i:mo><i:mn>6</i:mn></i:mrow></i:msup></i:math> s, permitting detection of such a highly excited state before its decay. An open–end-cap trap design enables the external photon signal to be directed into the trap, rendering our background-free detector compatible with large focusing cavities, such as the BREAD proposal, while capitalizing on their strong magnetic fields. Furthermore, the axion conversion rate can be coherently enhanced by incorporating layers of dielectrics with alternating refractive indices within the cavity. Collectively, these optimizations enable us to probe the QCD axion parameter space from 0.1 to 2.3 meV (25–560 GHz), covering a substantial portion of the predicted postinflationary QCD axion mass range. This sensitivity corresponds to probing the kinetic mixing parameter of the dark photon down to <k:math xmlns:k="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><k:mi>ε</k:mi><k:mo>≈</k:mo><k:mn>2</k:mn><k:mo>×</k:mo><k:msup><k:mn>10</k:mn><k:mrow><k:mo>−</k:mo><k:mn>16</k:mn></k:mrow></k:msup></k:math>.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Quantum sensing for fundamental physics efforts at SQMS

  2024-09-23

  articleOpen access

  One of the areas of research of the Superconducting Quantum Systems and Materials (SQMS) center is the application of quantum sensing to fundamental physics searches, demonstrating that quantum sensors can greatly improve the sensitivity of experiments searching for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics, or performing high-precision measurements. Theorists have developed many ideas for BSM physics that would result in interactions that can in principle be detected, but with signals small enough that they haven t been observed yet. In this field, the capability to lower the detector s thermal noise to few or dozens of mK, and to use QIS technologies such as Josephson Parametric Amplifiers and photon counters (in-situ or itinerant) enable us to reach unprecedented sensitivities and faster scan rates. Here is presented an overview of the quantum sensing efforts at SQMS [1], focusing on theoretical advancements and experimental searches for Dark Sector particles (as dark matter candidates and not), gravitational waves, and precision measurements. The experiments conducted, or under preparation, include axion dark matter (DM) [2, 3], dark photon DM searches [4,5], light-shining-through-wall experiments [6], cavity-based searches for high frequency gravitational waves [7], and measurements of the electron magnetic moment [8]. [1] Berlin, A., et al. "Searches for new particles, dark matter, and gravitational waves with SRF cavities." arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.12714 (2022). [2] Giaccone, B., et al. "Design of axion and axion dark matter searches based on ultra high Q SRF cavities." arXiv preprint arXiv:2207.11346 (2022). [3] Braggio, C., et al. "Quantum-enhanced sensing of axion dark matter with a transmon-based single microwave photon counter." arXiv preprint arXiv:2403.02321 (2024). [4] Fan, X., et al. "One-electron quantum cyclotron as a milli-eV dark-photon detector." Physical review letters 129.26 (2022): 261801. [5] Cervantes, R., et al. "Deepest sensitivity to wavelike dark photon dark matter with superconducting radio frequency cavities." Physical Review D 110.4 (2024): 043022. [6] Romanenko, A., et al. "Search for dark photons with superconducting radio frequency cavities." Physical review letters 130.26 (2023): 261801. [7] Berlin, A., et al. "Electromagnetic cavities as mechanical bars for gravitational waves." Physical Review D 108.8 (2023): 084058. [8] Fan, X., et al. "Measurement of the electron magnetic moment." Physical review letters 130.7 (2023): 071801.

  PublisherDOI

• Highly Excited Electron Cyclotron for QCD Axion and Dark-Photon Detection

  ArXiv.org · 2024-10-07

  preprintOpen access

  We propose using highly excited cyclotron states of a trapped electron to detect meV axion and dark photon dark matter, marking a significant improvement over our previous proposal and demonstration [Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 261801]. When the axion mass matches the cyclotron frequency $ω_c$, the cyclotron state is resonantly excited, with a transition probability proportional to its initial quantum number, $n_c$. The sensitivity is enhanced by taking $n_c \sim 10^6 \left( \frac{0.1~\text{meV}}{ω_c} \right)^2$. By optimizing key experimental parameters, we minimize the required averaging time for cyclotron detection to $t_{\text{ave}} \sim 10^{-6} $ seconds, permitting detection of such a highly excited state before its decay. An open-endcap trap design enables the external photon signal to be directed into the trap, rendering our background-free detector compatible with large focusing cavities, such as the BREAD proposal, while capitalizing on their strong magnetic fields. Furthermore, the axion conversion rate can be coherently enhanced by incorporating layers of dielectrics with alternating refractive indices within the cavity. Collectively, these optimizations enable us to probe the QCD axion parameter space from 0.1 meV to 2.3 meV (25-560 GHz), covering a substantial portion of the predicted post-inflationary QCD axion mass range. This sensitivity corresponds to probing the kinetic mixing parameter of the dark photon down to $ε\approx 2 \times 10^{-16}$.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Demonstration that Differential Length Changes of Optical Cavities are a Sensitive Probe for Ultralight Dark Matter

  arXiv (Cornell University) · 2024-12-30

  preprintOpen access

  Measurements of differential length oscillations of Fabry-Perot cavities provide a sensitive and promising approach to searching for scalar ultralight dark matter (ULDM). The initial demonstration sets direct lower bounds that are one to two orders of magnitude lower for two model ULDM distributions -- a standard galactic halo and a relaxion star bound to Earth -- ranging over a decade of ULDM mass and Compton frequency. The demonstration suggests how a much higher sensitivity to a much larger ULDM mass range can be obtained.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Electron Magnetic Moment, Fine Structure Constant, Mass Ratios, Laser Spectroscopy and QED

  NSF · $1.3M · 2006–2011

• PM: Electron and Positron Magnetic Moments from a Quantum Cyclotron

  NSF · $1.8M · 2021–2026

• The Production and Study of Cold Antihydrogen

  NSF · $3.1M · 2003–2008

• Lepton Magnetic Moments and Fine Structure Constant

  NSF · $819k · 2018–2021

• Antihydrogen and Antiproton Studies

  NSF · $592k · 2018–2019

Frequent coauthors

• David DeMille

  University of Chicago

  57 shared

• John M. Doyle

  50 shared

• Cristian D. Panda

  University of California, Berkeley

  49 shared

• W. Oelert

  Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

  43 shared

• C. H. Storry

  42 shared

• E. A. Hessels

  39 shared

• J. Walz

  Helmholtz Institute Mainz

  37 shared

• Nicholas R. Hutzler

  California Institute of Technology

  34 shared

Labs

• Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE)PI

  Fostering collaboration, innovation, and partnerships to position Northwestern as a leader in quantum information science and engineering (QISE).

Education

• Ph.D., Physics

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  1989

• B.S., Physics

  University of California, Berkeley

  1984

Awards & honors

• Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2007 - )
• Member, US American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019 - )
• Norman F. Ramsey Prize of the American Physical Society (202…
• Trotter Prize, Texas A&M University (2013)
• Julius Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society (20…