Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1211.4182 · Scientific Reports

Spatially resolved single photon detection with a quantum sensor array

Alexandre M. Zagoskin, R. D. Wilson, M. J. Everitt, Sergey E. Savel'ev, D. R. Gulevich, J. Allen, Viktor K. Dubrovich, E. V. Il’ichev

Published Dec 10, 2013• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose a method of resolving a spatially coherent signal, which contains on average just a single photon, against the background of local noise at the same frequency. The method is based on detecting the signal simultaneously in several points more than a wavelength apart through the entangling interaction of the incoming photon with the quantum metamaterial sensor array. The interaction produces the spatially correlated quantum state of the sensor array, characterised by a collective observable (e.g., total magnetic moment), which is read out using a quantum nondemolition measurement. We show that the effects of local noise (e.g., fluctuations affecting the elements of the array) are suppressed relative to the signal from the spatially coherent field of the incoming photon as , where N is the number of array elements. The realisation of this approach in the microwave range would be especially useful and is within the reach of current experimental techniques.

DOI
10.1038/srep03464

Related papers

Single-Shot Quantum Nondemolition Detection of Individual Itinerant Microwave Photons

Jean-Claude Besse, Simone Gasparinetti, Michele C. Collodo +5 more

Single-photon detection is an essential component in many experiments in quantum optics, but it remains challenging in the microwave domain. We realize a quantum nondemolition detector for propagating microwave photons and characterize its performance using a single-photon source. To this aim, we implement a cavity-assisted conditional phase gate between the incoming photon and a superconducting artificial atom. By reading out the state of this atom in a single shot, we reach an external (internal) photon-detection fidelity of 50% (71%), limited by transmission efficiency between the source and the detector (75%) and the coherence properties of the qubit. By characterizing the coherence and average number of photons in the field reflected off the detector, we demonstrate its quantum nondemolition nature. We envisage applications in generating heralded remote entanglement between qubits and for realizing logic gates between propagating microwave photons.

•Apr 1, 2018•117 citations

Single-Shot Quantum Nondemolition Detection of Individual Itinerant Microwave Photons

Jean-Claude Besse, Simone Gasparinetti, Michele C. Collodo +5 more

Single-photon detection is an essential component in many experiments in quantum optics, but it remains challenging in the microwave domain.We realize a quantum nondemolition detector for propagating microwave photons and characterize its performance using a single-photon source.To this aim, we implement a cavity-assisted conditional phase gate between the incoming photon and a superconducting artificial atom.By reading out the state of this atom in a single shot, we reach an external (internal) photon-detection fidelity of 50% (71%), limited by transmission efficiency between the source and the detector (75%) and the coherence properties of the qubit.By characterizing the coherence and average number of photons in the field reflected off the detector, we demonstrate its quantum nondemolition nature.We envisage applications in generating heralded remote entanglement between qubits and for realizing logic gates between propagating microwave photons.

arXiv:1711.11569•Physical Review X•Apr 3, 2018•113 citations

Simultaneous quantum-state measurements using array detection

Andrew M. C. Dawes, M. Beck

We have simultaneously measured the quantum states of two different spatial modes of the same optical beam by performing quantum-state tomography with an array detector. Both modes are well described by coherent states, but the projection of the signal onto the local oscillator mode contains a mean of 0.09 photons, while a more complicated mode has a mean of 4.3 photons. This demonstrates that for this particular mode the effective detection efficiency when using array detection is over 40 times greater than when using single detectors.

Physical Review A•Mar 19, 2001•11 citations

Towards combined quantum bit detection and spatial tracking using an arrayed single-photon sensor

Ross J. Donaldson, Dmytro O. Kundys, Aurora Maccarone +3 more

Experimental quantum key distribution through free-space channels requires accurate pointing-and-tracking to co-align telescopes for efficient transmission. The hardware requirements for the sender and receiver could be drastically reduced by combining the detection of quantum bits and spatial tracking signal using two-dimensional single-photon detector arrays. Here, we apply a two-dimensional CMOS single-photon avalanche diode detector array to measure and monitor the single-photon level interference of a free-space time-bin receiver interferometer while simultaneously tracking the spatial position of the single-photon level signal. We verify an angular field-of-view of 1.28° and demonstrate a post-processing technique to reduce background noise. The experimental results show a promising future for two-dimensional single-photon detectors in low-light level free-space communications, such as quantum communications.

Optics Express•Feb 10, 2021•13 citations

Characterization of space-momentum entangled photons with a time resolving CMOS SPAD array

Bruno Eckmann, Bänz Bessire, Manuel Unternährer +3 more

Single-photon avalanche diode arrays can provide both the spatial and temporal information of each detected photon. We present here the characterization of spatially entangled photons with a 32 × 32 pixel sensor, specifically designed for quantum imaging applications. The sensor is time-tagging each detection event at pixel level with sub-nanosecond accuracy within frames of 50 ns. The spatial correlations between any number of detections in a defined temporal window can thus be directly extracted from the data.The space-momentum entanglement of photon pairs is demonstrated by violating an EPR-type inequality directly from the measured near-field correlations and far-field anti-correlations.

arXiv:2006.10791•Optics Express•Sep 13, 2020•25 citations

Quantum electrodynamics of non-demolition detection of single microwave photon by superconducting qubit array

Patrick Navez, Alexander G. Balanov, Sergey E. Savel'ev +1 more

By consistently applying the formalism of quantum electrodynamics, we developed a comprehensive theoretical framework describing the interaction of single microwave photons with an array of superconducting transmon qubits in a waveguide cavity resonator. In particular, we analyze the effects of microwave photons on the array’s response to a weak probe signal exciting the resonator. The study reveals that high quality factor cavities provide a better spectral resolution of the response, while cavities with moderate quality factors allow better sensitivity for a single-photon detection. Remarkably, our analysis showed that a single-photon signal can be detected by even a sole qubit in a cavity under the realistic range of system parameters. We also discuss how the quantum properties of the microwave radiation and electrodynamical properties of resonators affect the response of qubits’ array. Our results provide an efficient theoretical background for informing the development and design of quantum devices consisting of arrays of qubits, especially for those using a cavity where an explicit expression for the transmission or reflection is required.

arXiv:2205.14490•Journal of Applied Physics•Mar 10, 2023•3 citations
We propose a method of resolving a spatially coherent signal, which contains on average just a single photon, against the background of local noise at the same frequency. The method is based on detecting the signal simultaneously in several points more than a wavelength apart through the entangling interaction of the incoming photon with the quantum metamaterial sensor array. The interaction produces the spatially correlated quantum state of the sensor array, characterised by a collective observable (e.g., total magnetic moment), which is read out using a quantum nondemolition measurement. We show that the effects of local noise (e.g., fluctuations affecting the elements of the array) are suppressed relative to the signal from the spatially coherent field of the incoming photon as , where N is the number of array elements. The realisation of this approach in the microwave range would be especially useful and is within the reach of current experimental techniques.
Single-photon detection is an essential component in many experiments in quantum optics, but it remains challenging in the microwave domain. We realize a quantum nondemolition detector for propagating microwave photons and characterize its performance using a single-photon source. To this aim, we implement a cavity-assisted conditional phase gate between the incoming photon and a superconducting artificial atom. By reading out the state of this atom in a single shot, we reach an external (internal) photon-detection fidelity of 50% (71%), limited by transmission efficiency between the source and the detector (75%) and the coherence properties of the qubit. By characterizing the coherence and average number of photons in the field reflected off the detector, we demonstrate its quantum nondemolition nature. We envisage applications in generating heralded remote entanglement between qubits and for realizing logic gates between propagating microwave photons.
Single-photon detection is an essential component in many experiments in quantum optics, but it remains challenging in the microwave domain.We realize a quantum nondemolition detector for propagating microwave photons and characterize its performance using a single-photon source.To this aim, we implement a cavity-assisted conditional phase gate between the incoming photon and a superconducting artificial atom.By reading out the state of this atom in a single shot, we reach an external (internal) photon-detection fidelity of 50% (71%), limited by transmission efficiency between the source and the detector (75%) and the coherence properties of the qubit.By characterizing the coherence and average number of photons in the field reflected off the detector, we demonstrate its quantum nondemolition nature.We envisage applications in generating heralded remote entanglement between qubits and for realizing logic gates between propagating microwave photons.
We have simultaneously measured the quantum states of two different spatial modes of the same optical beam by performing quantum-state tomography with an array detector. Both modes are well described by coherent states, but the projection of the signal onto the local oscillator mode contains a mean of 0.09 photons, while a more complicated mode has a mean of 4.3 photons. This demonstrates that for this particular mode the effective detection efficiency when using array detection is over 40 times greater than when using single detectors.
Experimental quantum key distribution through free-space channels requires accurate pointing-and-tracking to co-align telescopes for efficient transmission. The hardware requirements for the sender and receiver could be drastically reduced by combining the detection of quantum bits and spatial tracking signal using two-dimensional single-photon detector arrays. Here, we apply a two-dimensional CMOS single-photon avalanche diode detector array to measure and monitor the single-photon level interference of a free-space time-bin receiver interferometer while simultaneously tracking the spatial position of the single-photon level signal. We verify an angular field-of-view of 1.28° and demonstrate a post-processing technique to reduce background noise. The experimental results show a promising future for two-dimensional single-photon detectors in low-light level free-space communications, such as quantum communications.
Single-photon avalanche diode arrays can provide both the spatial and temporal information of each detected photon. We present here the characterization of spatially entangled photons with a 32 × 32 pixel sensor, specifically designed for quantum imaging applications. The sensor is time-tagging each detection event at pixel level with sub-nanosecond accuracy within frames of 50 ns. The spatial correlations between any number of detections in a defined temporal window can thus be directly extracted from the data.The space-momentum entanglement of photon pairs is demonstrated by violating an EPR-type inequality directly from the measured near-field correlations and far-field anti-correlations.
By consistently applying the formalism of quantum electrodynamics, we developed a comprehensive theoretical framework describing the interaction of single microwave photons with an array of superconducting transmon qubits in a waveguide cavity resonator. In particular, we analyze the effects of microwave photons on the array’s response to a weak probe signal exciting the resonator. The study reveals that high quality factor cavities provide a better spectral resolution of the response, while cavities with moderate quality factors allow better sensitivity for a single-photon detection. Remarkably, our analysis showed that a single-photon signal can be detected by even a sole qubit in a cavity under the realistic range of system parameters. We also discuss how the quantum properties of the microwave radiation and electrodynamical properties of resonators affect the response of qubits’ array. Our results provide an efficient theoretical background for informing the development and design of quantum devices consisting of arrays of qubits, especially for those using a cavity where an explicit expression for the transmission or reflection is required.