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Related Concept Videos

Photoelectric Effect02:26

Photoelectric Effect

When light of a particular wavelength strikes a metal surface, electrons are emitted. This is called the photoelectric effect. The minimum frequency of light that can cause such emission of electrons is called the threshold frequency, which is specific to the metal. Light with a frequency lower than the threshold frequency, even if it is of high intensity, cannot initiate the emission of electrons. However, when the frequency is higher than the threshold value, the number of electrons ejected...
Joule-Thomson Effect01:21

Joule-Thomson Effect

The Joule-Thomson effect, also known as the Joule-Kelvin effect, describes the temperature change of a fluid when it is forced through a valve or porous plug while keeping it in a thermally insulated environment. This experiment is called a throttling process. This is an important effect widely used in refrigeration and the liquefaction of gases.
This experiment forces high-pressure gas through a throttle valve or a porous plug to a lower-pressure region. The gas expands as it passes through to...
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Radiation and Light Sources01:13

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Radiation and Light Sources

Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) relies on the Beer-Lambert law, which requires that the radiation source emits a narrow range of wavelengths to match the absorption characteristics of the analyte atom. The primary criteria for choosing an appropriate radiation source in AAS is to provide a precise and intense emission at specific wavelengths that will allow accurate detection of the analyte.
Two common narrow-range 'line' sources used in AAS are hollow-cathode lamps (HCLs) and...
P-N junction01:11

P-N junction

A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:24

Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

The contact of metal and semiconductor can lead to the formation of a junction with either Schottky or Ohmic behavior.
Schottky Barriers
Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The semiconductor's...
Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:27

Biasing of Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

Biasing metal-semiconductor junctions involves applying a voltage across the junction. Specifically, the metal is connected to a voltage source, while the semiconductor is grounded. This technique is essential for controlling the direction and magnitude of current flow in electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and photovoltaic cells.
In Schottky junctions, where the semiconductor is n-type, applying a positive voltage to the metal relative to the semiconductor reduces its Fermi...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing
08:12

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

Published on: March 13, 2013

13.1K

Microwave photon detection by an Al Josephson junction.

Leonid S Revin1,2, Andrey L Pankratov1,2,3, Anna V Gordeeva2

  • 1Institute for Physics of Microstructures of RAS, GSP-105, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia.

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
|July 11, 2020
PubMed
Summary

This study investigates an aluminium Josephson junction (JJ) as a microwave photon detector. Phase diffusion enhances noise immunity but reduces single-photon sensitivity, showing potential for improved dark count rates.

Keywords:
Josephson junctionaluminiummicrowavesphase diffusionphoton counterswitching current distribution

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing
08:12

Synthesis and Operation of Fluorescent-core Microcavities for Refractometric Sensing

Published on: March 13, 2013

13.1K

Area of Science:

  • Quantum electronics
  • Superconducting devices
  • Photon detection

Background:

  • Josephson junctions (JJs) are sensitive to quantum phenomena.
  • Detecting microwave photons requires highly sensitive devices.
  • Existing detectors face challenges with noise and sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an aluminium Josephson junction (JJ) for microwave photon detection.
  • To analyze the superconducting state lifetime and switching probability.
  • To understand the impact of phase diffusion on detector performance.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental investigation of an aluminium JJ with suppressed critical current.
  • Measurement of superconducting state lifetime and switching probability under a 9 GHz signal.
  • Analysis of temperature-dependent switching current histograms to identify the operating regime.

Main Results:

  • Observed an anomalously large lifetime of the superconducting state, inconsistent with Kramers' theory.
  • Identified phase diffusion as the cause for the extended lifetime and improved noise immunity.
  • Quantized switching probability tilt suggests differentiation between N and N+1 photon absorption.

Conclusions:

  • Phase diffusion in JJs significantly improves noise immunity, reducing dark counts.
  • While enhancing noise immunity, phase diffusion decreases single-photon sensitivity.
  • The observed quantized switching behavior offers potential for photon-number resolution.