Abstract
Quantum point contact readout theory for singlet-triplet qubits in a lateral double quantum dot is extended by including tunneling of triplet configurations into a higher-energy level of the neighboring dot. This additional channel creates energetically allowed leakage pathways that modify the branch-dependent charge and current-noise signatures, even when the Pauli blockade remains effective within the ground-state manifold. The model contains two single-particle levels in each dot. The resulting singlet and triplet block structure is derived together with a Lindblad master equation. Quantum-jump simulations are then used to resolve the dynamics of individual readout events. A complementary Liouvillian steady-state analysis identifies the regime in which tunneling to the excited level qualitatively changes the readout signatures, with the crossover determined by the level spacing.