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Fast and Continuous Detection of Single Microwave Photons via Photoassisted Quasiparticle Tunneling to a Superconducting Island

J. Basset*, O. Stanisavljević, J. Gabelli, M. Aprili, and J. Estève

  • *Contact author: julien.basset@universite-paris-saclay.fr
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 237001 – Published 10 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/mj91-ntm4

Abstract

We demonstrate a single-photon detector operating in the microwave domain, based on photoassisted quasiparticle tunneling events that poison a superconducting island. The detection relies on continuously monitoring the island’s charge parity using microwave reflectometry. This scheme achieves 10% detection efficiency with sub 50 ns time resolution and short dead time (∼1  μs), for microwave photons at 10 GHz. The detector features three junctions connected to a superconducting island, which together carry out photoelectric conversion and charge readout. The enhanced light-matter coupling, crucial to photon-to-quasiparticle conversion, is provided by a granular aluminum-based high-impedance microwave resonator. The time-resolved detection of itinerant microwave photon opens up new perspectives in quantum sensing, microwave quantum optics, and mesoscopic physics.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 237001– Published 10 June, 2026
  • Received 19 December 2025
  • Accepted 1 May 2026
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