GOALI: Fast Single-Photon Infrared Detectors

智力优势：该研究项目将开发快速红外光探测器。要开发的探测器元件是一种超导纳米线，它被单个光子短暂加热，然后产生电压脉冲。该检测器的应用领域是(1)检查半导体微电路，这对半导体行业的所有制造商都很重要；(2)记录单个生物分子与特定的DNA或蛋白质序列结合时发出的光。这种能力将扩展到红外范围，在两个应用领域记录这些快速信号的能力。对于生物应用，这应该能够使用发光的分子探针，并且可以从皮肤表面下看到。这将允许将这种探针用于医学诊断应用。更广泛的影响：这项工作的更广泛的影响是培养研究生和本科生使用先进的纳米制造方法和微波技术。这包括他们接触到工业合作伙伴的前沿工业研究方法。PI将与IBM的同事在这个项目上密切合作，生产和测试这些探测器结构。随着探测器作为具有新功能的工具，对半导体工业和分子水平的生物测试的好处将在这些领域开辟新的研究。这项研究将由首席研究员在当地公立学校展示，作为理解光和科学家如何进行光谱测量的模型。

Daniel Prober, Yale University0622035Intellectual Merits: This research program will develop fast, infrared light detectors. The detector element to be developed is a superconducting nanowire that is briefly heated up by a single photon of light, and then develops a pulse of voltage. The applications of this detector are in the area of (1) inspection of semiconductor microcircuits, which is important for all the manufacturers in the semiconductor industry; and (2) recording of the light emission by individual biological molecules when they bind to specified DNA or protein sequences. This capability will extend into the infrared range the ability to record these fast signals in both application areas. For the biological application, this should enable the use of molecular probes that emit light and can be seen from below the surface of the skin. This would allow the use of such probes for medical diagnostic applications.Broader Impacts: The broader impact of this work is to train graduate students and undergraduates in the use of advanced nanofabrication methods and microwave technology. This includes their exposure to leading-edge industrial research methods of the industrial partner. The PI will work closely with IBM colleagues on this project to produce and test these detector structures. The benefits to the semiconductor industry and to biological testing at the molecular level will open new research in those fields, with the detector as the tool having new capabilities. The research will be presented in local public schools by the Principal investigator as a model of how light is understood and how scientists conduct spectroscopy measurements.