GRAPHENE-BASED INFRARED SINGLE PHOTON DETECTOR

摘要

A detector for detecting single photons of infrared radiation. In one embodiment a waveguide configured to transmit infrared radiation is arranged to be adjacent a graphene sheet and configured so that evanescent waves from the waveguide overlap the graphene sheet. The graphene sheet has two contacts connected to an amplifier, a power detector, and a pulse detector. An infrared photon absorbed by the graphene sheet from the evanescent waves heats the graphene sheet, which increases the Johnson noise generated at the contacts. The Johnson noise is amplified and the absorption of a photon is detected by the power detector and pulse detector.

主权项

1. A photon detector comprising:
a waveguide configured to guide infrared electromagnetic waves, in a mode having an evanescent field extending outside of the waveguide; a graphene sheet having two contacts and configured:
to be coupled to the evanescent field; andto undergo, when a photon is absorbed by the graphene sheet, an increase in temperature and a subsequent decrease in temperature, resulting in a corresponding increase in thermal noise at the two contacts and a subsequent decrease in thermal noise at the two contacts; and a circuit connected to the two contacts, the circuit configured to detect the increase in thermal noise.