Gradual partial-collapse theory for ideal nondemolition measurements of qubits in circuit QED

Abstract: The conventional method of qubit measurements in circuit QED is employing the dispersive regime of qubit-cavity coupling, which results in an approximated scheme of quantum nondemolition (QND) readout. This scheme becomes problematic in the case of strong coupling and/or strong measurement drive, owing to the so-called Purcell effect. A recent proposal by virtue of longitudinal coupling suggests a new scheme to realize fast, high-fidelity, and {\it ideal QND} readout of qubit state. The aim of the present work is twofold: (i) In parallel to what has been done in the past years for the dispersive readout, we carry out the gradual partial-collapse theory for this recent scheme, in terms of both the quantum trajectory equation and quantum Bayesian approaches. The partial-collapse weak measurement theory is useful for such as the measurement-based feedback control and other quantum applications. (ii) In the physical aspect, we construct the joint qubit-plus-cavity entangled state under continuous measurement and present a comprehensive analysis for the quantum efficiency,qubit-state purity, and signal-to-noise ratio in the output currents. The combination of the joint state and the quantum Bayesian rule provides a generalized scheme of cavity reset associated with the longitudinal coupling, which can restore the qubit to a quantum pure state from entanglement with the cavity states, and thus benefits the successive partial-collapse measurements after qubit rotations.