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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09462 |
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| _version_ | 1866929627900936192 |
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| author | Palaferri, Daniele Mancini, Lorenzo Vecchi, Chiara Daga, Leonardo Ulpiani, Pierfrancesco Proietti, Massimiliano Liorni, Carlo Dispenza, Massimiliano Cappelli, Francesco De Natale, Paolo Borri, Simone |
| author_facet | Palaferri, Daniele Mancini, Lorenzo Vecchi, Chiara Daga, Leonardo Ulpiani, Pierfrancesco Proietti, Massimiliano Liorni, Carlo Dispenza, Massimiliano Cappelli, Francesco De Natale, Paolo Borri, Simone |
| contents | Single photon detection is the underpinning technology for quantum communication and quantum sensing applications. At visible and near-infrared wavelengths, single-photon-detectors (SPDs) underwent a significant development in the past two decades, with the commercialization of SPADs and superconducting detectors. At longer wavelengths, in the mid-infrared range (4-11$μ$um), given the reduced scattering and favourable transparent atmospheric windows, there is an interest in developing quantum earth-satellites-links and quantum imaging for noisy environments or large-distance telescopes. Still, SPD-level mid-infrared devices have been rarely reported in the state-of-the-art (superconductors, single-electron-transistors or avalanche-photodiodes) and, crucially, all operating at cryogenic temperatures. Here, we demonstrate a room-temperature detection system operating at 4.6$μ$m-wavelength with a sensitivity-level of atto-watt optical power, corresponding to few tens of mid-infrared photons. This result was obtained by exploiting a pair of commercially available photodetectors within two balanced-heterodyne-detection setups: one involving a quantum-cascade-laser (QCL) and an acousto-optic-modulator (AOM) and the other one including two QCLs with mutual coherence ensured by a phase-lock-loop (PLL). Our work not only validates a viable method to detect ultra-low-intensity signals, but is also potentially scalable to the entire wavelength range already accessible by mature QCL technology, unfolding - for the first time - quantum applications at mid- and long-wave-infrared-radiation. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2412_09462 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Near-single-photon atto-watt detection at mid-infrared wavelengths by a room-temperature balanced heterodyne set-up Palaferri, Daniele Mancini, Lorenzo Vecchi, Chiara Daga, Leonardo Ulpiani, Pierfrancesco Proietti, Massimiliano Liorni, Carlo Dispenza, Massimiliano Cappelli, Francesco De Natale, Paolo Borri, Simone Quantum Physics Single photon detection is the underpinning technology for quantum communication and quantum sensing applications. At visible and near-infrared wavelengths, single-photon-detectors (SPDs) underwent a significant development in the past two decades, with the commercialization of SPADs and superconducting detectors. At longer wavelengths, in the mid-infrared range (4-11$μ$um), given the reduced scattering and favourable transparent atmospheric windows, there is an interest in developing quantum earth-satellites-links and quantum imaging for noisy environments or large-distance telescopes. Still, SPD-level mid-infrared devices have been rarely reported in the state-of-the-art (superconductors, single-electron-transistors or avalanche-photodiodes) and, crucially, all operating at cryogenic temperatures. Here, we demonstrate a room-temperature detection system operating at 4.6$μ$m-wavelength with a sensitivity-level of atto-watt optical power, corresponding to few tens of mid-infrared photons. This result was obtained by exploiting a pair of commercially available photodetectors within two balanced-heterodyne-detection setups: one involving a quantum-cascade-laser (QCL) and an acousto-optic-modulator (AOM) and the other one including two QCLs with mutual coherence ensured by a phase-lock-loop (PLL). Our work not only validates a viable method to detect ultra-low-intensity signals, but is also potentially scalable to the entire wavelength range already accessible by mature QCL technology, unfolding - for the first time - quantum applications at mid- and long-wave-infrared-radiation. |
| title | Near-single-photon atto-watt detection at mid-infrared wavelengths by a room-temperature balanced heterodyne set-up |
| topic | Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09462 |