On-demand microwave single-photon source based on tantalum thin films

Y Ying Hu S Sheng-Yong Li (Department of Automation, Tsinghua University 2 , Beijing 100084,) E En-Qi Chen (Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Department of Physics and Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Hunan Normal University 1 , Changsha 410081,) R Rui-Yang Gong (School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University 3 , Guangzhou 510275,) J Jing Zhang Y Yu-xi Liu (School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University 6 , Beijing 100084,) J Jia-Gui Feng (Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) 7 , Shenzhen 518045,) Z Zhihui Peng (Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Department of Physics and Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Hunan Normal University 1 , Changsha 410081,)

Abstract

Single-photon sources are crucial for quantum information technologies. Here, we demonstrate a microwave single-photon source based on tantalum thin films, whose favorable material properties enable high-quality, stable photon emission. The antibunching behavior of the emitted radiation is revealed by second-order correlation measurements. Furthermore, traveling-wave parametric amplifiers are used as low-noise pre-amplifiers in the detection chains, substantially improving the signal-to-noise ratio and thereby greatly reducing the acquisition time required for second-order correlation measurements. These results demonstrate the viability of tantalum-based superconducting devices as reliable platforms for microwave quantum photonics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 128, Issue 15
Published April 13, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

Y

Ying Hu

S

Sheng-Yong Li

Department of Automation, Tsinghua University 2 , Beijing 100084,

E

En-Qi Chen

Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Department of Physics and Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Hunan Normal University 1 , Changsha 410081,

R

Rui-Yang Gong

School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University 3 , Guangzhou 510275,

J

Jing Zhang

Y

Yu-xi Liu

School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University 6 , Beijing 100084,

J

Jia-Gui Feng

Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) 7 , Shenzhen 518045,

Z

Zhihui Peng

Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Department of Physics and Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Hunan Normal University 1 , Changsha 410081,