Photonics Research, 2021, 9 (2): 02000259, Published Online: Feb. 2, 2021
Mid-infrared photon counting and resolving via efficient frequency upconversion Download: 516次
Abstract
Optical detectors with single-photon sensitivity and large dynamic range would facilitate a variety of applications. Specifically, the capability of extending operation wavelengths into the mid-infrared region is highly attractive. Here we implement a mid-infrared frequency upconversion detector for counting and resolving photons at 3 μm. Thanks to the spectrotemporal engineering of the involved optical fields, the mid-infrared photons could be spectrally translated into the visible band with a conversion efficiency of 80%. In combination with a silicon avalanche photodiode, we obtained unprecedented performance with a high overall detection efficiency of 37% and a low noise equivalent power of . Furthermore, photon-number-resolving detection at mid-infrared wavelengths was demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, with a multipixel photon counter. The implemented upconversion detector exhibited a maximal resolving photon number up to 9 with a noise probability per pulse of 0.14% at the peak detection efficiency. The achieved photon counting and resolving performance might open up new possibilities in trace molecule spectroscopy, sensitive biochemical sensing, and free-space communications, among others.
Kun Huang, Yinqi Wang, Jianan Fang, Weiyan Kang, Ying Sun, Yan Liang, Qiang Hao, Ming Yan, Heping Zeng. Mid-infrared photon counting and resolving via efficient frequency upconversion[J]. Photonics Research, 2021, 9(2): 02000259.