Single-photon detection with a Josephson junction coupled to a resonator

Abstract: We use semiclassical formalism to optimize a microwave single photon detector based on switching events of a current biased Josephson junction coupled to a resonator. In order to detect very rare events, the average time between dark counts $\tau_{\rm dark}$ should be maximized taking into account that the switching time $\tau_{\rm sw}$ should be sufficiently small. We demonstrate that these times can be tuned in the wide range by changing the junction parameters, and the ratios $\tau_{\rm dark}/\tau_{\rm sw} \sim 10^9$ can be achieved. Therefore, a junction-resonator arrangement can be used for detecting extremely low photon fluxes, for instance for searching galactic axions.