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arXiv:2205.14490 · Journal of Applied Physics

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

Patrick Navez, Alexander G. Balanov, Sergey E. Savel'ev, Alexandre M. Zagoskin

Published Mar 10, 2023• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1063/5.0137747

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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.
The detection of single microwave photons is becoming a cornerstone of fundamental experiments in circuit quantum electrodynamics and quantum sensing. Experiments in cavity quantum electrodynamics, photon-mediated entanglement, dark-matter axion searches and quantum thermodynamics increasingly rely on single-photon sensitivity. Current technologies exploit superconducting devices, including Josephson parametric detectors, and transmon-based non-demolition counters for dark-matter haloscopes. Hybrid double quantum dot-Josephson systems reach interesting levels of efficiency, while current-biased Josephson junctions show potential for near-quantumlimited resolution. Despite impressive progress, challenges remain in reducing dark counts, improving reset speed, and scaling for multiplexed arrays. Continued advances in superconducting materials, qubit coherence, and hybrid semiconductor-superconductor designs promise to extend detection efficiency and bandwidth. These developments are poised to enable the next generation of quantum-enabled experiments, from foundational tests in quantum optics to searches for new physics.
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Experimental search of galactic axions requires detection of single photons in the microwave range. We work on a novel approach to detect single microwave photons based on a coherent collective response of quantum states occurring in a superconducting qubit network (SQN) embedded in a lowdissipative superconducting resonator. We propose a two resonators detector configuration with two parallel resonators without common part and with separated input and output terminals. The device consists of a low-dissipative resonator with embedded SQN in which microwave photons arrive (“signal resonator”), and a transmission line for measuring the frequency dependent transmission coefficient demonstrating resonant drops at the qubit frequencies (“readout resonator”). In comparison with T-type three terminal device recently proposed and investigated by us, the device with two resonators with separated input and output terminals doesn't contain common part of both resonators and exclude an unwanted noise from measurement readout circuits to the signal resonator. A layout of two resonators four terminal SQN detectors containing 5 flux qubits weakly coupled to a low-dissipative signal and readout resonator was developed and optimized. The samples were fabricated by Manhattan Al-based technology with Nb resonator circuits. The SQN detector was experimentally tested in terms of microwave measurements of scattering parameters of both resonators, and crosstalk properties. Comparison of experimental data with results of the simulations permits one to conclude that the electromagnetic conditions of the fundamental resonant peak of 8.5 GHz of both resonators aren't affected by the crosstalk phenomenon and their performances provided by the design remain not altered for correct device operation
Waveguide quantum electrodynamics studies photon-mediated interactions of quantum emitters in a one-dimensional radiation channel. Although signatures of such interactions have been observed previously in a variety of physical systems, observation of coherent cooperative dynamics has been obscured by radiative decay of atoms into the waveguide. Employing transmon qubits as artificial atoms coupled to a microwave coplanar waveguide, here we observe dynamical oscillations in an open system where a designated probe qubit interacts with an entangled dark state of an array of qubits which effectively traps radiation as an atomic cavity. The qubit-cavity system is shown to achieve a large cooperativity of C=172 due to collective enhancement of photon-mediated interactions, entering the strong coupling regime. The quantum coherence of the dark state cavity is also explored through its nonlinear response at the single-excitation level. With realistic refinements, this system is suitable for studying the many-body dynamics of large (N>10) quantum spin chains, synthesizing highly non-classical radiation fields on demand, and implementing universal quantum logic operations with high fidelity on information encoded within decoherence-free subspaces.
Motivated by recent interest in implementing circuit quantum electrodynamics with semiconducting quantum dots, we consider a double quantum dot (DQD) capacitively coupled to a superconducting resonator that is driven by the microwave field of a superconducting transmission line. We analyze the DQD current response using input-output theory and show that the resonator-coupled DQD is a sensitive microwave single photon detector. Using currently available experimental parameters of DQD-resonator coupling and dissipation, including the effects of 1/f1/f1/f charge noise and phonon noise, we determine the parameter regime for which incident photons are completely absorbed and near-unit $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}98$% efficiency can be achieved. We show that this regime can be reached by using very high quality resonators with quality factor $Q\ensuremath{\simeq}{10}^{5}$.
Waveguide quantum electrodynamics studies photon-mediated interactions of quantum emitters in a one-dimensional radiation channel. Although signatures of such interactions have been observed previously in a variety of physical systems, observation of coherent cooperative dynamics has been obscured by radiative decay of atoms into the waveguide. Employing transmon qubits as artificial atoms coupled to a microwave coplanar waveguide, here we observe dynamical oscillations in an open system where a designated probe qubit interacts with an entangled dark state of an array of qubits which effectively traps radiation as an atomic cavity. The qubit-cavity system is shown to achieve a large cooperativity of C=172\mathcal{C}=172C=172 due to collective enhancement of photon-mediated interactions, entering the strong coupling regime. The quantum coherence of the dark state cavity is also explored through its nonlinear response at the single-excitation level. With realistic refinements, this system is suitable for studying the many-body dynamics of large (N>10N>10N>10) quantum spin chains, synthesizing highly non-classical radiation fields on demand, and implementing universal quantum logic operations with high fidelity on information encoded within decoherence-free subspaces.