Prospects for Using Thermoelectric Single-Photon Detectors in Quantum Information Systems and Astrophysics

Abstract

In this paper, we propose the design of detection pixels for single-photon detectors, consisting of absorber and heat sink (Bi-2223), thermoelectric sensors (CeB₆), and an antireflection layer (SiO₂) located on a dielectric substrate (Al₂O₃). We employ modeling and simulation to study the heat propagation processes in multi-layer detection pixels following the absorption of photons with energy ranging from 0.8 eV to 1 keV. Calculations are performed using the heat transfer equation within a limited volume, employing the three-dimensional matrix method. We calculate the temperature temporal variation in different areas of the detection pixels, as well as the voltage generated on the sensor, for various thicknesses and surfaces of the detection pixel layers. We determine the maximum signal value, time at which the maximum signal is reached, signal decay time, and the detector’s count rate. We derive equations for Phonon and Johnson noise in the three-layer detection pixel and calculate the total noise. Based on the data obtained, we propose ways to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.