Towards a microwave single-photon counter for searching axions

• DOI: 10.1038/s41534-022-00569-5
• Publication Date: 2022-05-18T10:02:54Z
• Authors: A. L. Pankratov; L. S. Revin; A. V. Gordeeva; A. A. Yablokov; L. S. Kuzmin; E. Il’ichev
• Keywords: Physics; QC1-999; Electronic computers. Computer science; 0103 physical sciences; QA75.5-76.95; 01 natural sciences

Abstract The major task of detecting axions or axion-like particles has two challenges. On the one hand, ultimate sensitivity is required, down to energy a single microwave photon yoctojoule range. other since detected events are supposed be rare, dark count rate detector must extremely low. We show that this trade-off can approached due peculiar switching dynamics an underdamped Josephson junction in phase diffusion regime. detection few photons’ at 10 GHz with time above s and efficiency close unity was demonstrated. Further enhancements require detailed investigation dynamics.