Charge sensitivity of a cavity-embedded Cooper pair transistor limited by single-photon shot noise

Using an operator scattering approach, we analyze the quantum dynamics of an ultrasensitive electrometer-a Cooper pair transistor embedded in a quarter-wave microwave cavity (cCPT). While the cCPT is inherently a tunable, strongly nonlinear system affording a diverse range of functionalities, we restrict our present analysis to a necessary first investigation of its linear charge sensing capabilities, limiting to low pump powers corresponding to an average cavity photon number of <= 1. Assuming realizable cCPT parameters [B. L. Brock et al., Phys. Rev. Applied 15, 044009 (2021)], and not including noise from the subsequent amplifier chain, we predict the fundamental, photon shot noise-limited charge sensitivity to be 0.12 mu e / Hz when the pumped cavity has an average of one photon and the cCPT is operated close to charge degeneracy. This is to be compared with a first reported charge sensitivity value of 14 mu e / Hz in the single-photon regime [B. L. Brock et al., (2021)].& nbsp;Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

By using an operator scattering approach, this study analyzed the quantum dynamics of a Cooper pair transistor embedded in a microwave cavity. The predicted charge sensitivity is 0.12 mu e / Hz when the pumped cavity has an average of one photon and the cCPT is operated close to charge degeneracy.