室温平衡外差装置在中红外波长下的阿特瓦光探测

IF 10 1区 物理与天体物理 Q1 OPTICS
Lorenzo Mancini, Pierfrancesco Ulpiani, Chiara Vecchi, Leonardo Daga, Massimiliano Proietti, Carlo Liorni, Massimiliano Dispenza, Francesco Cappelli, Paolo De Natale, Simone Borri, Daniele Palaferri
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引用次数: 0

摘要

平衡外差检测(BHD)是基于相干读出方案的量子通信和量子传感应用中可见光和近红外波长的关键技术。考虑到散射的减少和有利的透明大气窗口,将BHD扩展到中红外波长(4-11 μ m),可以在高噪声环境中实现稳健的地球-卫星链路和少光子成像。目前,由于缺乏高灵敏度的室温光电接收器,这些波长的量子应用受到阻碍;此外,迄今为止报道的中红外单光子探测器(超导体、单电子晶体管或雪崩光电二极管)需要低温操作,限制了实用性。本文演示了一个工作在4.6 μ m波长下的室温BHD系统,其灵敏度为阿托瓦级,相当于每秒几十个光子。这一结果是通过选择具有最高探测性的市售光电探测器并利用两种外差设置获得的——一种涉及单个量子级联激光器(QCL)和声光调制器(AOM),另一种包括两个量子级联激光器,通过锁相环确保相互相干。结合足够高的本振(LO)功率和信号与本振之间的高相位相干性对于将系统噪声等效功率(NEP)推至接近射噪声极限的值至关重要,这一点已被少光子干涉测量证实。这项工作不仅验证了检测超低强度信号的可行方法,而且还可能扩展到目前最先进的中红外技术所能达到的整个波长范围。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
Atto‐Watt Photo‐Detection at Mid‐Infrared Wavelengths by a Room‐Temperature Balanced Heterodyne Set‐Up
Balanced heterodyne detection (BHD) is a key technology at visible and near‐infrared wavelengths for quantum communication and quantum sensing applications based on coherent read‐out schemes. Extending BHD at mid‐infrared wavelengths (4–11 µm), given the reduced scattering and favourable transparent atmospheric windows, could enable robust earth‐satellite links and few‐photon imaging in high‐noise environments. Currently, quantum applications at these wavelengths are hindered by the lack of high‐sensitivity, room‐temperature photoreceivers; moreover, mid‐infrared single‐photon‐detectors reported to date (superconductors, single‐electron‐transistors, or avalanche‐photodiodes) require cryogenic operation, limiting practicality. Here, a room‐temperature BHD system operating at 4.6 µm‐wavelength with atto‐watt sensitivity level, corresponding to a few tens of photons per second, is demonstrated. This result is obtained by selecting commercially available photodetectors with the highest detectivity and exploiting two heterodyne setups ‐one involving a single quantum‐cascade‐laser (QCL) and an acousto‐optic‐modulator (AOM), and the other one including two QCLs with mutual coherence ensured by a phase‐locked‐loop. Combining a sufficiently high local oscillator (LO) power and the high phase‐coherence between signal and LO is crucial to push the system noise‐equivalent‐power (NEP) to values approaching the shot‐noise‐limit, as confirmed by few‐photons interferometry measurements. This work not only validates viable methods to detect ultra‐low‐intensity signals, but is also potentially scalable to the entire wavelength range already accessible by state‐of‐the‐art mid‐infrared technology.
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来源期刊
CiteScore
14.20
自引率
5.50%
发文量
314
审稿时长
2 months
期刊介绍: Laser & Photonics Reviews is a reputable journal that publishes high-quality Reviews, original Research Articles, and Perspectives in the field of photonics and optics. It covers both theoretical and experimental aspects, including recent groundbreaking research, specific advancements, and innovative applications. As evidence of its impact and recognition, Laser & Photonics Reviews boasts a remarkable 2022 Impact Factor of 11.0, according to the Journal Citation Reports from Clarivate Analytics (2023). Moreover, it holds impressive rankings in the InCites Journal Citation Reports: in 2021, it was ranked 6th out of 101 in the field of Optics, 15th out of 161 in Applied Physics, and 12th out of 69 in Condensed Matter Physics. The journal uses the ISSN numbers 1863-8880 for print and 1863-8899 for online publications.
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