Dispersive detection of single microwave photons with quantum dots

Year: 2026

Authors: Matern S., Biella A., Scarlino P., Carusotto I., Rastelli G.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Trento, Pitaevskii BEC Ctr, CNR INO, I-38123 Trento, Italy; Univ Trento, Dipartimento Fis, I-38123 Trento, Italy; Trento Inst Fundamental Phys & Applicat, INFN TIFPA, Via Sommar 14, I-38123 Trento, Italy; Ecole Polytech Fed Lausanne, Inst Phys, Hybrid Quantum Circuits Lab HQC, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ecole Polytech Fed Lausanne, Ctr Quantum Sci & Engn, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abstract: Within a circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture, we theoretically investigate the detection of a single propagating microwave photon traveling through a resonant microwave cavity dispersively interacting with a double quantum dot tunnel coupled to a lead. Under suitable conditions, a single photon in the cavity can induce a measurable change in the electronic occupation of the charge states. We develop a quantum cascade approach that enables a time-resolved description of a single-photon wave packet impinging on the cavity. We make use of a simple model of charge detector to assess the efficiency of our photo-detection configuration as functions of key parameters such as coupling strength, tunneling rate, temperature, and photon resonance linewidth. We finally highlight a measurement-induced backaction effect on the cavity mode associated with the dispersive, nonabsorptive detection process.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH

Volume: 8 (3)      Pages from: 33034-1  to: 33034-20

More Information: We acknowledge continuous stimulating discussions with Christian Johansen, Anna Minguzzi, Maxime Richard, and Asian Selvakumaran. S.M., A.B., I.C., and G.R. acknowledge financial support from Provincia Autonoma di Trento (PAT) ; and from the Q@TN Initiative; from the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute through the PNRR MUR project under Grant No. PE0000023-NQSTI, cofunded by the European Union-NextGeneration EU. P.S. acknowledges support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under Contract No. MB22.00 081/REF-1131-52105, and the support from the NCCR SPIN, a National Centre of Competence in Research, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) with Grant No. 225153. P.S. also acknowledges support from the SNSF through the Grants No. 200021_200418/1 and No. 206021_205335/1.
KeyWords: Spin; Electron; Electrodynamics
DOI: 10.1103/4dmz-t4c3