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arXiv · 1909.12964

Microwave measurement beyond the quantum limit with a nonreciprocal amplifier

F. Lecocq·L. Ranzani·G. A. Peterson·K. Cicak·A. Metelmann·S. Kotler·R. W. Simmonds·J. D. Teufel·J. Aumentado
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Abstract

The measurement of a quantum system is often performed by encoding its state in a single observable of a light field. The measurement efficiency of this observable can be reduced by loss or excess noise on the way to the detector. Even a \textit{quantum-limited} detector that simultaneously measures a second non-commuting observable would double the output noise, therefore limiting the efficiency to $50\%$. At microwave frequencies, an ideal measurement efficiency can be achieved by noiselessly amplifying the information-carrying quadrature of the light field, but this has remained an experimental challenge. Indeed, while state-of-the-art Josephson-junction based parametric amplifiers can perform an ideal single-quadrature measurement, they require lossy ferrite circulators in the signal path, drastically decreasing the overall efficiency. In this paper, we present a nonreciprocal parametric amplifier that combines single-quadrature measurement and directionality without the use of strong external magnetic fields. We extract a measurement efficiency of $62_{-9}^{+17} \%$ that exceeds the quantum limit and that is not limited by fundamental factors. The amplifier can be readily integrated with superconducting devices, creating a path for ideal measurements of quantum bits and mechanical oscillators.

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F. Lecocq, L. Ranzani, G. A. Peterson, K. Cicak, A. Metelmann, S. Kotler, R. W. Simmonds, J. D. Teufel, J. Aumentado. 2020-04-03. Microwave measurement beyond the quantum limit with a nonreciprocal amplifier. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.13.044005

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