Quantum detector properties of the quantum point contact (QPC) are analyzed for an arbitrary electron transparency and coupling strength to the measured system and are shown to be determined by the electron counting statistics. Conditions of the quantum-limited operation of the QPC detector, which prevent information loss through the scattering time and scattering phases, are found for arbitrary coupling. We show that the phase information can be restored and used for the quantum-limited detection by inclusion of the QPC detector in the electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

• Received 27 May 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.126803