Photon shot noise limited detection of terahertz radiation using a quantum capacitance detector

We observed a sweep rate dependence of the quantum capacitance in a single Cooper-Pair box used as the readout of a Quantum Capacitance Detector. A model was developed that fits the data over five orders of magnitude in sweep rate and optical signal power and provides a natural calibration of the absorbed power. We are thereby able to measure the noise equivalent power of the detector as a function of absorbed power. We find that it is shot-noise-limited in detecting 1.5 THz photons with absorbed power ranging from 1 × 10−22 W to 1 × 10−17 W.