Detecting spins with a microwave photon counter

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel microwave fluorescence detection method for small ensembles of spins in silicon using superconducting devices, enabling potential advances in magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Contribution

It introduces a microwave photon counter integrated with a superconducting resonator to detect spin fluorescence at microwave frequencies, a new approach in spin detection.

Findings

Successful detection of donor spins in silicon via microwave fluorescence.

Enhanced spin radiative decay rate through coupling to a superconducting resonator.

Implementation of a superconducting qubit-based microwave single-photon counter.

Abstract

Quantum emitters respond to resonant illumination by radiating electromagnetic fields. A component of these fields is phase-coherent with the driving tone, while another one is incoherent, consisting of spontaneously emitted photons and forming the fluorescence signal. Atoms and molecules are routinely detected by their fluorescence at optical frequencies, with important applications in quantum technology and microscopy. Spins, on the other hand, are usually detected by {their coherent response} at radio- or microwave frequencies, either in continuous-wave or pulsed magnetic resonance. Indeed, fluorescence detection of spins is hampered {by their low spontaneous emission rate} and by the lack of single-photon detectors in this frequency range. Here, using superconducting quantum devices, we demonstrate the detection of a small ensemble of donor spins in silicon by their fluorescence at microwave frequency and millikelvin temperatures. We enhance the spin radiative decay rate by coupling them to a high-quality-factor and small-mode-volume superconducting resonator, and we connect the device output to a newly-developed microwave single-photon counter based on a superconducting qubit. We discuss the potential of fluorescence detection as a novel method for magnetic resonance spectroscopy of small numbers of spins.