Detection of Single Submillimeter-Wave Photons Using Quantum Dots

• Authors: S. Komiyama , O. Astafiev , V. Antonov , T. Kutsuwa
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Single-photon detection in a range of submillimeter waves (λ = 0.17-0.20 mm) is demonstrated by using lateral semiconductor quantum dots fabricated on a high-mobility GaAs/AlGaAs single heterostructure crystal. When a submillimeter photon is absorbed by the quantum dot while it is operated as a single-electron transistor, it switches on (or off) the conductance through the quantum dot. An incident flux of 0.1 photons/s on an effective detector area, (0.1 mm)^{2}, is detected with a 1 ms time resolution. The effective noise equivalent power is roughly estimated to reach on the order of 10^{-22} W/Hz^{1/2}, a value superior to the ever reported best values of conventional detectors by a factor more than 10^{4}.

Keywords

EN

73.40.Hm; 76.40.+b; 72.20.Ht

• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 2000
• Volume: 98
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 271-278

Dates

published

2000-09

Contributors

author

S. Komiyama

• Department of Basic Science, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan

author

O. Astafiev

• Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) , Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan

author

V. Antonov

• Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) , Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan

author

T. Kutsuwa

• Department of Basic Science, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan