Photon statistics in RF circuits

Detection of photocount correlations plays a great role in the characterization of purely quantum states of the electromagnetic field in the visible and near-visible regions of the spectrum. With the advent of circuit QED, there is a need for similar tools in the microwave domain, where good photon detectors do not exist. We can, however, recover all the relevant statistical quantities from continuous measurements readily performed with microwaves.

In this talk, I will present experiments that we conducted with narrow-band signals and show how we can recover discrete photon statistics from the cumulants of a continuous distribution of field quadrature measurements. I will also show some counterintuitive features of wide-band signals, where for instance the instantaneous probability of photodetection can be maximum when the electric field is zero.
 

All Faculty, staff and students are invited
Coffee will be served in the Department of Physics
SP-367-11 at 2:30 PM
Information: 514 848-2424 ext. 3270