Acousto-electric single-photon detector

• We propose a novel concept for a semiconductor-based single-photon detector for quantum information processing, which is capable of discriminating the number of photons in a light pulse. The detector exploits the charge transport by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) in order to combine a large photon absorption area (thus providing high photon collection efficiency) with a microscopic charge detection area, where the photo generated charge is detected with resolution at the single electron level using single electron transistors (SETs). We present preliminary results on acoustic transport measured in a prototype for the detector as well as on the fabrication of radio-frequency single-electron transistors (RFSETs) for charge detection. The photon detector is a particular example of acousto-electric nanocircuits that are expected to be able to control both the spatial and the spin degrees of freedom of single electrons. If realized, these circuits will contribute substantially to a scalable quantum information technology.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

RF-SET

single-photon detection

SAW

SET

single electron transistor

surface acoustic wave

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)