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Photon-level Quantumized Microwave Detection Based on Artificial $\Lambda$-Type Three-level System with Superconducting Devices: Performance Prediction

Junyu Zhang, Chen Gong, Shangbin Li, Rui Ni, Chengjie Zuo, Jinkang Zhu, Ming Zhao, Zhengyuan Xu

Published Jun 25, 2020• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We adopt artificial $\Lambda$-type three level system with superconducting devices for microwave signal detection, where the signal intensity can reach the level of discrete photons instead of continuous waveform. Based on the state transition principles, we propose a statistical model for microwave signal detection. Moreover, we investigate the achievable transmission rate and signal detection based on the statistical model. It is predicted that the proposed detection can achieve significantly higher sensitivity compared with the currently deployed $4$G communication system.

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Photon-level Quantumized Microwave Detection Based on Artificial Λ\LambdaΛ-Type Three-level System with Superconducting Devices: Performance Prediction
We adopt artificial Λ\LambdaΛ-type three level system with superconducting devices for microwave signal detection, where the signal intensity can reach the level of discrete photons instead of continuous waveform. Based on the state transition principles, we propose a statistical model for microwave signal detection. Moreover, we investigate the achievable transmission rate and signal detection based on the statistical model. It is predicted that the proposed detection can achieve significantly higher sensitivity compared with the currently deployed 444G communication system.
We adopt artificial$\Lambda $-type three-level system with superconducting devices for microwave signal detection, where the signal intensity reaches the level of discrete photons instead of continuous waveform. Based on the state transition principles of the three-level system, we propose a statistical model for microwave signal detection. In addition, achievable transmission rates and signal detection based on the proposed statistical models are investigated for low temperature conditions in deep space communication scenario. It is predicted that high sensitivity can be achieved by the proposed system. We further characterize the received signal considering the saturation phenomenon of three-level system, which reveals negligible performance degradation caused by saturation under weak received power regime.
Future wireless communication system embraces physical-layer signal detection with high sensitivity, especially in the microwave photon level. Currently, the receiver primarily adopts the signal detection based on semi-conductor devices for signal detection, while this paper introduces high-sensitivity photon-level microwave detection based on superconducting structure. We first overview existing works on the photon-level communication in the optical spectrum as well as the microwave photon-level sensing based on superconducting structure in both theoretical and experimental perspectives, including microwave detection circuit model based on Josephson junction, microwave photon counter based on Josephson junction, and two reconstruction approaches under background noise. In addition, we characterize channel modeling based on two different microwave photon detection approaches, including the absorption barrier and the dual-path Handury Brown-Twiss (HBT) experiments, and predict the corresponding achievable rates. According to the performance prediction, it is seen that the microwave photon-level signal detection can increase the receiver sensitivity compared with the state-of-the-art standardized communication system with waveform signal reception, with gain over 10dB.
Single-photon detection is a requisite technique in quantum-optics experiments in both the optical and the microwave domains. However, the energy of microwave quanta are four to five orders of magnitude less than their optical counterpart, making the efficient detection of single microwave photons extremely challenging. Here we demonstrate the detection of a single microwave photon propagating through a waveguide. The detector is implemented with an impedance-matched artificial Λ system comprising the dressed states of a driven superconducting qubit coupled to a microwave resonator. Each signal photon deterministically induces a Raman transition in the Λ system and excites the qubit. The subsequent dispersive readout of the qubit produces a discrete 'click'. We attain a high single-photon-detection efficiency of 0.66±0.06 with a low dark-count probability of 0.014±0.001 and a reset time of ∼400 ns. This detector can be exploited for various applications in quantum sensing, quantum communication and quantum information processing.
We provide an overview of the recent progresses on the system architecture design and performance prediction for microwave signal detection under weak signal intensity regime, up to quantumized level. The technique roadmap includes two perspectives, the opto-electro-mechanical (OEM) and superconducting devices. For the former one, we first overview the concept of OEM, and then introduce the signal detection based on capacitive-opto-electro-mechanical systems and piezo- opto-electro-mechanical systems. For the latter one, we first overview the concept and architecture of Josephson junction, and then introduce the signal detection based on superconducting Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT) experiments and Λ energy-level splitting system. Besides, we review the microwave detection based on Rydberg atom system. We believe that this overview can provide a guidance for future transmission limit, signal processing, detection device fabrication and real experiments.
We propose a microwave frequency single-photon transistor which can operate under continuous wave probing and represents an efficient single microwave photon detector. It can be realized using an impedance matched system of a three level artificial ladder-type atom coupled to two microwave cavities connected to input-output waveguides. Using a classical drive on the upper transition, we find parameter space where a single photon control pulse incident on one of the cavities can be fully absorbed into hybridized excited states. This subsequently leads to series of quantum jumps in the upper manifold and the appearance of a photon flux leaving the second cavity through a separate input-output port. The proposal does not require time variation of the probe signals, thus corresponding to a passive version of a single-photon transistor. The resulting device is robust to qubit dephasing processes, possesses low dark count rate for large anharmonicity, and can be readily implemented using current technology.
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.