A broadband single microwave-photon detector insensitive to the thermal noise

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Chai, Y. Q., Wang, M. Y., Wang, S. N., Ouyang, P. H., Wei, L. F.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Chai, Y. Q.
Wang, M. Y.
Wang, S. N.
Ouyang, P. H.
Wei, L. F.
author_facet Chai, Y. Q.
Wang, M. Y.
Wang, S. N.
Ouyang, P. H.
Wei, L. F.
contents Thermal noise is one of the physical obstacles that constrain the achievable detection sensitivities of various detectors. Indeed, as we showed in a recent paper (PRB 111, 024501 (2025)), the usual Josephson threshold detector (JTD) operated in an equilibrium state can be utilized to implement a weak microwave signal, just approaching (but not arriving at) its energy quantum limit, even though its physical parameters have been optimized. In this letter, we further demonstrate numerically that the phase dynamics of a current-biased Josephson junction (CBJJ) can be insensitive to the always-on thermal noise if the sweep rate of the biased current is significantly high. As a consequence, the JTD can be operated alternatively in a non-equilibrium state. Based on the statistical binary detection criterion, we demonstrate how such a non-equilibrium JTD (NEJTD) can be utilized to implement the weak microwave signal, arriving at its energy quantum limit level. The dynamic range and photon-number resolvability of the proposed NEJTD are also discussed when it serves as a broadband single microwave-photon detector.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_21085
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A broadband single microwave-photon detector insensitive to the thermal noise
Chai, Y. Q.
Wang, M. Y.
Wang, S. N.
Ouyang, P. H.
Wei, L. F.
Quantum Physics
Thermal noise is one of the physical obstacles that constrain the achievable detection sensitivities of various detectors. Indeed, as we showed in a recent paper (PRB 111, 024501 (2025)), the usual Josephson threshold detector (JTD) operated in an equilibrium state can be utilized to implement a weak microwave signal, just approaching (but not arriving at) its energy quantum limit, even though its physical parameters have been optimized. In this letter, we further demonstrate numerically that the phase dynamics of a current-biased Josephson junction (CBJJ) can be insensitive to the always-on thermal noise if the sweep rate of the biased current is significantly high. As a consequence, the JTD can be operated alternatively in a non-equilibrium state. Based on the statistical binary detection criterion, we demonstrate how such a non-equilibrium JTD (NEJTD) can be utilized to implement the weak microwave signal, arriving at its energy quantum limit level. The dynamic range and photon-number resolvability of the proposed NEJTD are also discussed when it serves as a broadband single microwave-photon detector.
title A broadband single microwave-photon detector insensitive to the thermal noise
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21085