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Time-resolved sensing of electromagnetic fields with single-electron interferometry
H Bartolomei1, E Frigerio1, M Ruelle1
1Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Nature Nanotechnology
|March 18, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel on-chip quantum sensor using an electronic interferometer to detect electric fields with high time resolution. This advancement enables sensitive measurement of microwave fields and opens doors for detecting non-classical states.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Solid-State Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Characterizing quantum states of microwave electromagnetic fields demands sensitive detectors capable of probing amplitude and fluctuations.
- Current methods like homodyne detection or digitizers are limited by room-temperature amplification chains (~10-GHz bandwidth) and weak sample coupling.
- These limitations restrict time resolution and detection sensitivity for high-impedance samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an on-chip quantum sensor for detecting classical time-dependent electric fields.
- To overcome the limitations of existing microwave detection techniques.
- To enable the detection of non-classical electromagnetic fields.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an electronic Fabry-Pérot interferometer in a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum Hall conductor.
- Exploited the phase of a single-electron wavefunction for electric field detection.
- Measured both phase and contrast of the interference pattern.
Main Results:
- Achieved a time resolution of ~35 picoseconds, limited by the electronic wavepacket's temporal width.
- Demonstrated a voltage resolution of ~50 microvolts, equivalent to a few microwave photons.
- Successfully measured both phase and contrast, crucial for advanced quantum state detection.
Conclusions:
- The developed on-chip quantum sensor offers superior time resolution and sensitivity compared to traditional methods.
- The ability to measure interference contrast paves the way for detecting non-classical states like squeezed or Fock states.
- This technology advances quantum metrology and the characterization of quantum electromagnetic fields.
