Collaborative Research: Impact Ionization Engineered and Nanoscale Quantum-dot Based Avalanche Photodiodes for Reliable Near- to Long-wave Infrared Photon Counting

合作研究：用于可靠的近长波红外光子计数的碰撞电离工程和纳米级量子点雪崩光电二极管M. M. Hayat和S.克里希纳，新墨西哥大学0601645 J。C.坎贝尔，哥伦比亚大学0601927 ABTRACT智力优点：目前，有一个高效率的单光子探测器的低色散，低损耗的1.3-1.55微米近红外（NIR）光谱窗口的巨大需求。这种需求是由光纤量子通信，远程人眼安全的闪光成像激光雷达和深空通信中的应用所保证的。此外，长波红外波段的光子计数探测器在探测极低的辐照度和反射率方面将非常有用，如在天文测光（天体的高速测光）、高速天体物理学和化学传感方面。虽然光电倍增管和单光子雪崩二极管已经成功地开发了波长低于1.1微米，但没有可接受的光子计数检测器用于1.3-1.55微米NIR操作。这个合作的理论和实验计划的目标是开发单光子雪崩二极管，用于两种光谱范围内的高精度光子计数：（1）1.3-1.55微米NIR范围，以及（2）8-12微米LWIR范围。所提出的用于NIR操作的基于InGaAs的SPAD技术具有优化的AlInAs-InP和AlInGaAs-GaAs冲击电离工程倍增区，该倍增区已被证明可为工作在1.55微米的雪崩光电二极管提供创纪录的低过量噪声因子。另一方面，所提出的用于长波红外操作的技术是基于GaAs基量子点技术作为吸收体与GaAs倍增区的无缝集成。更广泛的影响：所提出的优化单光子雪崩二极管有望使1.3-1.55微米光子计数系统的性能达到与可见光光子计数器相当的水平，这将极大地影响上述应用。拟议的努力也将对长波红外传感器的研究和技术产生巨大影响。两名研究生和一名高中生（整个夏天）将在这个项目中得到支持。将尽一切努力从工程专业任职人数不足的群体中征聘人员。每年在新墨西哥州大学组织一次为期两天的研讨会;所有在这个项目中做研究的学生都将在技术和公开会议上介绍他们的工作。在研讨会期间，还将为感兴趣的高中科学教师提供一个免费的光通信短期课程。此外，在阿尔伯克基的科学博物馆Explora，将向儿童提供一系列有监督的、动手的和有趣的单光子探测演示。

Collaborative Research: Impact Ionization Engineered and NanoscaleQuantum-dot Based Avalanche Photodiodes for Reliable Near- toLong-wave Infrared Photon CountingM. M. Hayat and S. Krishna, University of New Mexico0601645J. C. Campbell, University of Virginia0601927ABTRACTIntellectual Merit: Presently, there is a great need for high-efficiency single-photon detectors for the low-dispersion, low-loss 1.3-1.55 micron near-infrared (NIR) spectral window. This need is warranted by applications in fiber-optic quantum communication, long-range eye-safe flash imaging ladar, and deep-space communication. Moreover, photon-counting detectors for the long-wave infrared (LWIR) regime would be very useful in detecting ultralow levels of irradiance and reflectance, as in astronomical photometry (high-speed photometry of astronomical objects), high-speed astrophysics and chemical sensing. While photomultiplier tubes and single-photon avalanche diodes have been successfully developed for wavelengths below 1.1 micron, there are no acceptable photon-counting detectors for 1.3-1.55 micron NIR operation. The goal of this collaborative theoretical and experimental program is to develop single-photon avalanche diodes for high-accuracy photon counting in two spectral regimes: (1) the 1.3-1.55 micron NIR regime, and (2) the 8-12 micron LWIR regime. The proposed InGaAs-based SPAD technology for NIR operation features optimized AlInAs-InP and AlInGaAs-GaAs impact-ionization-engineered multiplication regions, which have already been demonstrated to offer record-low excess noise factors for avalanche photodiodes operating at 1.55 micron. On the other hand, the proposed technology for LWIR operation is based on a seamless integration of GaAs-based quantum-dot technology, as an absorber, with a GaAs multiplication region. Broader Impacts: The proposed optimized single-photon avalanche diodes are expected to bring the performance of 1.3-1.55 micron photon-counting systems to a level comparable to that of visible-light photon counters, which would greatly impact the aforementioned applications. The proposed effort would also have a dramatic impact on LWIR infrared sensor research and technology. Two graduate students and one high school student (over the summer) will be supported in this project. Every effort will be made to recruit from underrepresented groups in engineering. A two-day symposium will be organized each year at the University of New Mexico; all students doing research in this program will present their work in technical and open-public sessions. During the symposia, a free short course in optical communication will also be offered to interested high-school science teachers. Additionally, a series of supervised, hands-on and intriguing demonstrations of single-photon detection will be provided to children at Explora, Albuquerque's science museum.