Novel Mid IR single Photon Detectors for Quantum Systems

该项目将开发一种新的商用单光子雪崩探测器(SPAD)平台，用于重要的SWIR、MWIR和LWIR光谱范围(1.7-12微米)。传统的多光子光电二极管已经被开发出来，以提供对红外光谱的全面覆盖，并在这样做的过程中实现了许多重要的光子应用和工业。随着研究人员和工业界寻求应用新兴的量子光子学，很明显，现有的探测器技术正在限制可以利用的光谱范围。现有的硅和InP/InGaAsSPAD技术支持1.7微米以下的可见光和红外应用。然而，除了这些波长之外，没有SPAD技术可用，因此没有提供响应速度、高工作温度和紧凑尺寸的单光子探测器，这些都是商业可行性的基本属性。本项目将开发和原型探测器采用一种新的基于势垒的结构，该结构是紫晶研究有限公司的专利。近年来，这种基于势垒的结构在多光子红外探测器中提供了领先的性能指标。紫晶势垒技术独一无二地允许通过激发内部雪崩增益来扩展势垒探测器的概念，就像在SPAD中利用的那样。兰开斯特大学的初步表征已经证明了这一点，并显示了新的SPAD探测器家族的潜力。该项目有以下里程碑：里程碑1：基于单极势垒探测器(UBD)架构的单光子量子雪崩光电二极管(雪崩光电二极管)设计(紫晶研究和兰开斯特大学)里程碑2：量子雪崩光电二极管结构的分子束外延生长(兰开斯特大学)兰卡斯特大学在生长III-V相关半导体材料方面拥有丰富的经验。因此，在这个项目中，将在兰开斯特大学生长雪崩光电二极管结构。里程碑3：量子雪崩光电二极管制造(CST)设备将使用半导体技术公司(CST)最先进的净室设施，从里程碑2中生长的晶片进行加工。里程碑4：量子雪崩光电二极管测试和子系统集成(紫晶研究、兰开斯特大学和分包系统原始设备制造商)

This project will develop a new commercial single photon avalanche detector (SPAD) platform for the important SWIR,MWIR and LWIR spectral ranges (1.7 - 12um). Conventional, many photon, photodiodes have been developed to providecomprehensive coverage of the IR spectrum and in doing so have enabled a multitude of important photonic applicationsand industries. As researchers and industry look to apply emerging quantum photonics, it is evident that available detectortechnology is limiting the spectral ranges which can be exploited. Visible and IR applications below a wavelength of 1.7um,are supported by existing Silicon and InP/InGaAs SPAD technologies. However, beyond these wavelengths there are noSPAD technologies available and hence no single photon detectors that offer their speed of response, high operatingtemperature and compact size, which are essential attributes for commercial viability.The detector to be developed and prototyped in this project employs a novel barrier based structure, proprietary toAmethyst Research Ltd. In recent years such barrier based structures have delivered leading performance metrics in manyphoton IR detectors. The Amethyst barrier technology uniquely allows the barrier detector concept to be extended byexciting internal avalanche gain, as exploited in SPADs. Preliminary characterisation at Lancaster University hasdemonstrated this and shown the potential for the new family of SPAD detectors.The project has the following milestonesMilestone 1: Design of Single Photon Quantum Avalanche Photo Diode (APD) based on Unipolar Barrier Detector (UBD)architecture (Amethyst Research and Lancaster University)Milestone 2: MBE Growth of the Quantum APD Structure (Lancaster University)Lancaster University have vast experience in growing III-V related semiconductor materials. Hence, for this program, theAPD structure will be grown at Lancaster University.Milestone 3: Quantum APD Fabrication (CST)Devices will be processed from wafer grown in Milestone 2 using state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities at CompoundSemiconductor Technologies (CST).Milestone 4: Quantum APD Testing and Sub-System Integration (Amethyst Research, Lancaster University andsubcontracted system OEMs)