Abstract
We investigate theoretically the use of an electron in a Penning trap as a detector of single microwave photons. At the University of Sussex we are developing a chip Penning trap technology, designed to be integrated within quantum circuits. Microwave photons are guided into the trap and interact with the electron’s quantum cyclotron motion. This is an electric dipole transition, where the near field of the microwave radiation induces quantum jumps of the cyclotron harmonic oscillator. The quantum jumps can be monitored using the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect, providing the quantum non demolition signal of the microwave quanta. We calculate the quantum efficiency of photon detection and discuss the main features and technical challenges for the trapped electron as a quantum microwave sensor.
Highlights
An efficient detector of single microwave photons is a fundamental tool still missing in quantum technology [1]
In this article we focus on the implementation of a single microwave photon detector with a trapped electron as a transducer
In this article we have studied the basic features of an electron trapped in a geonium chip as a detector of single microwave photons
Summary
An efficient detector of single microwave photons is a fundamental tool still missing in quantum technology [1]. Such detectors are essential for determining the quantum state of GHz radiation fields and vital for quantum communication and quantum information applications with microwaves. While several alternatives based upon superconducting and semiconductor technologies have been proposed and are being developed (see for instance [2,3,4] and references therein), the first observation of individual microwave photons employed an electron captured in a Penning trap as a transducer [5]. In this article we focus on the implementation of a single microwave photon detector with a trapped electron as a transducer
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