We investigate qubit measurements using a single-electron transistor (SET). Applying the Schrödinger equation to the entire system we find that an asymmetric SET is considerably more efficient than a symmetric SET. Yet, its efficiency does not reach that of an ideal detector even in the large asymmetry limit. We also compare the SET detector with a point-contact detector. This comparison allows us to illuminate the relation between information gain in the measurement process and the decoherence generated by these measurement devices.

• Received 20 December 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.073303