2014/10/15 by Shabir Barzanjeh, Barzanjeh, Shabir, M. C. de Oliveira +3
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced MEMS and NEMS Technologies #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Photonic and Optical Devices #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1410.4024
openalex publication_date 2014/10/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
While detection of optical photons is today achieved with very high efficiencies, the detection of microwave fields at the photon level still poses non-trivial experimental challenges. In this Letter we propose a model of microwave photodetector which is based on the use of an electro-opto-mechanical system. Using state of the art technology, we show how single microwave photons can efficiently be converted into optical photons which are then measured by standard optics. The overall quantum efficiency of our microwave detector tends to one for achievable values of the optical and microwave cooperativity parameters. Our scheme could be used for sensing and scanning very faint microwave fields, as they may occur in radio astronomy, satellite and deep space communications.