The ultimate goal and the theoretical limit of weak signal detection is the ability to detect a single photon against a noisy background. [...] In this paper we show, that a combination of a quantum metamaterial (QMM)-based sensor matrix and quantum
non-demolition (QND) readout of its quantum state allows, in principle, to detect a single photon in several points, i.e., to observe its wave front. Actually, there are a few possible ways of doing this, with at least one within the reach of current experimental techniques for the microwave range. The ability to resolve the quantum-limited signal from a remote source against a much stronger local noise would bring significant advantages to such diverse fields of activity as, e.g., microwave astronomy and missile defence. The key components of the proposed method are 1) the entangling interaction of the incoming photon with the QMM sensor array, which produces the spatially correlated quantum state of the latter, and 2) the QND readout of the collective observable (e.g., total magnetic moment), which characterizes this quantum state. The effects of local noise (e.g., fluctuations affecting the elements of the matrix) will be suppressed relative to the signal from the spatially coherent field of (even) a single photon.
We explore the role played by the intrinsic decoherence in superconducting charge qubits in the presence of a microwave field applied as a magnetic flux. We study how the delayed creation of entanglement, which is opposite to the sudden death of enta
nglement, can be induced. We compute the time evolution of the population inversion, total correlation and entanglement, taking into account the junction mixed state and dissipation of the cavity field. We show that although decoherence destroys the correlation of the junction and field, information of the initial state may be obtained via quasi-probability distribution functions.
