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Continuous-Wave Single-Photon Transistor Based on a Superconducting Circuit
Oleksandr Kyriienko1, Anders S Sørensen1
1The Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Physical Review Letters
|October 15, 2016
Summary
We propose a passive microwave frequency single-photon transistor that acts as an efficient single microwave photon detector. This device uses a three-level atom coupled to two cavities for quantum control and detection.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Solid-state physics
- Microwave engineering
Background:
- Single-photon detectors are crucial for quantum information processing.
- Existing detectors often require complex control or suffer from high noise.
- Developing passive, efficient single-photon detectors is a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel microwave frequency single-photon transistor.
- To demonstrate its function as an efficient single microwave photon detector.
- To explore its potential for practical quantum technologies.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a three-level artificial ladder-type atom coupled to two microwave cavities.
- Employing continuous wave probing and a classical drive on the upper transition.
- Analyzing photon absorption into hybridized excited states and subsequent quantum jumps.
Main Results:
- A single photon control pulse can be fully absorbed, triggering quantum jumps.
- A photon flux is generated in a second cavity, indicating detection.
- The device operates passively without time-varying probe signals.
Conclusions:
- The proposed device functions as a passive single-photon transistor and detector.
- It exhibits robustness against qubit dephasing and low dark counts.
- The design is implementable with current quantum technologies.
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