Gate-Tunable Photoresponse of Graphene Josephson Junctions at Terahertz Frequencies

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first strong photoresponse of graphene Josephson junctions at terahertz frequencies, highlighting their potential for broadband cryogenic quantum sensing and single-photon detection.

Contribution

It introduces a graphene JJ-based THz sensor with high responsivity and tunable properties, advancing the development of quantum sensors in the underexplored THz band.

Findings

Achieved a responsivity of 88 kV/W at 1.7 K.

Observed a strong photovoltage suppression under low-intensity THz illumination.

Demonstrated gate tunability enabling operation up to 0.9 K with hysteretic characteristics.

Abstract

Graphene Josephson junctions (JJ) provide a promising platform for ultra-broadband quantum sensing of light owing to graphene's frequency-independent absorption, vanishing electronic heat capacity, and weak electron-phonon coupling, which enable rapid suppression of the critical current through radiation-induced electron heating. Existing investigations have been confined to the microwave and infrared regimes, where competing detector technologies are already established; by contrast, the terahertz (THz) band - where sensitivity is most urgently lacking and no mature quantum sensor exists - has remained largerly unexplored. Here we demonstrate a strong photoresponse of graphene JJs at THz frequencies, establishing a first experimental step towards graphene-based THz quantum sensors. Under low-intensity illumination, we observe a pronounced suppression of the critical current that generates a strong photovoltage (Vph) under current bias. By tracking this Vph and independently measuring the electron temperature as a function of absorbed power, we extract a responsivity of 88 kV W^-1 and a noise-equivalent power of 45 aW Hz^-1/2 at 1.7 K. Furthermore, gate tunability of our JJ enables access to a regime where hysteretic current-voltage characteristics persist up to 0.9 K, offering a potential route toward single-photon THz detection beyond millikelvin (mK) temperatures. These findings establish graphene JJ as a versatile platform for broadband cryogenic radiation sensing and point towards their use as quantum sensors at THz frequencies.