Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector
Single-photon detectors are essential for implementing optical quantum technologies, such as quantum key distribution, and for enhancing optical imaging systems such as lidar, while also playing a crucial role in studying the statistical properties of light. In this work, we show how the underlying...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10919223/ |
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| author | Jiaming Wang Kirill Petrovnin J. Pertti Hakonen Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu |
| author_facet | Jiaming Wang Kirill Petrovnin J. Pertti Hakonen Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu |
| author_sort | Jiaming Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Single-photon detectors are essential for implementing optical quantum technologies, such as quantum key distribution, and for enhancing optical imaging systems such as lidar, while also playing a crucial role in studying the statistical properties of light. In this work, we show how the underlying photon statistics can be revealed by using a threshold detector, implemented as a Josephson parametric amplifier operating near a first-order phase transition. We describe the detection protocol, which utilizes a series of pumping pulses followed by the observation of activated switching events. The acquired data are analyzed using two binomial tests, and the results are compared to a theoretical model that takes into account the photon statistics of the microwave field, with additional validation provided by computer simulations. We show that these tests provide conclusive evidence for the Poissonian statistics in the case of a coherent state, in agreement with the experimental data. In addition, this method enables us to distinguish between different statistics of the incoming probe field. Our approach is broadly applicable to standard non-photon-number-resolving detectors, offering a practical pathway to characterize photon statistics in quantum microwave and optical systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c0ba7f4daf841b5b95bd27256ac5f11 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2689-1808 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c0ba7f4daf841b5b95bd27256ac5f112025-08-20T02:18:25ZengIEEEIEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering2689-18082025-01-0161810.1109/TQE.2025.354948510919223Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon DetectorJiaming Wang0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4151-6655Kirill Petrovnin1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0014-4955J. Pertti Hakonen2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-4108Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0057-7275QTF Centre of Excellence and InstituteQ, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, FinlandQTF Centre of Excellence and InstituteQ, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, FinlandQTF Centre of Excellence and InstituteQ, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, FinlandQTF Centre of Excellence and InstituteQ, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, FinlandSingle-photon detectors are essential for implementing optical quantum technologies, such as quantum key distribution, and for enhancing optical imaging systems such as lidar, while also playing a crucial role in studying the statistical properties of light. In this work, we show how the underlying photon statistics can be revealed by using a threshold detector, implemented as a Josephson parametric amplifier operating near a first-order phase transition. We describe the detection protocol, which utilizes a series of pumping pulses followed by the observation of activated switching events. The acquired data are analyzed using two binomial tests, and the results are compared to a theoretical model that takes into account the photon statistics of the microwave field, with additional validation provided by computer simulations. We show that these tests provide conclusive evidence for the Poissonian statistics in the case of a coherent state, in agreement with the experimental data. In addition, this method enables us to distinguish between different statistics of the incoming probe field. Our approach is broadly applicable to standard non-photon-number-resolving detectors, offering a practical pathway to characterize photon statistics in quantum microwave and optical systems.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10919223/Coherent statecritical phenomenadark count rateJosephson parametric oscillatormicrowave photon detectorphase transition |
| spellingShingle | Jiaming Wang Kirill Petrovnin J. Pertti Hakonen Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering Coherent state critical phenomena dark count rate Josephson parametric oscillator microwave photon detector phase transition |
| title | Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector |
| title_full | Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector |
| title_fullStr | Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector |
| title_short | Observing the Poisson Distribution of a Coherent Microwave Field With a Parametric Photon Detector |
| title_sort | observing the poisson distribution of a coherent microwave field with a parametric photon detector |
| topic | Coherent state critical phenomena dark count rate Josephson parametric oscillator microwave photon detector phase transition |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10919223/ |
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