Single-photon detection with a Josephson junction coupled to a resonator

TL;DR

This paper presents an optimized microwave single-photon detector using a Josephson junction coupled to a resonator, capable of detecting extremely low photon fluxes by tuning junction parameters to maximize dark count time.

Contribution

The study introduces a method to tune junction parameters to achieve high dark count suppression and small switching times, enhancing single-photon detection sensitivity.

Findings

Achieved dark count to switching time ratio of about 10^9.

Demonstrated tunability of detector parameters over a wide range.

Potential application in detecting galactic axions.

Abstract

We use semiclassical formalism to optimize a microwave single photon detector based on switching events of a current biased Josephson junction coupled to a resonator. In order to detect very rare events, the average time between dark counts $\tau_{\rm dark}$ should be maximized taking into account that the switching time $\tau_{\rm sw}$ should be sufficiently small. We demonstrate that these times can be tuned in the wide range by changing the junction parameters, and the ratios $\tau_{\rm dark}/\tau_{\rm sw} \sim 10^9$ can be achieved. Therefore, a junction-resonator arrangement can be used for detecting extremely low photon fluxes, for instance for searching galactic axions.