6GHz Lithium Niobate Mass Sensor for Monitoring Solid Neon Crystal Growth

The electron-on-solid-neon qubit utilizes the unique, ultra-smooth properties of solid neon crystals to provide a noise-free platform. In this qubit platform, the thickness of the neon crystal film is paramount to the qubit’s performance. In this work, we designed a sealed cell in a 3K cryostat where neon can be injected and then solidified at the sample surface. A 6GHz thin-film lithium niobate mechanical resonator was housed inside the cell to examine the dynamics of neon crystal growth, where the high-frequency nature of such resonators could enhance mass detection sensitivity. We monitor the thickness of the neon layer in real time by tracking the resonance frequency shift caused by the neon deposition. We believe this system could serve as a vital tool for optimizing cryogenic crystal growth and enhancing the solid-state electron-on-solid-neon qubit platform.