Single-photon detection enabled by negative differential conductivity in moiré superlattices
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arXiv
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866910955220238336 |
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| author | Nowakowski, Krystian Agarwal, Hitesh Slizovskiy, Sergey Smeyers, Robin Wang, Xueqiao Zheng, Zhiren Barrier, Julien Ruiz, David Barcons Li, Geng Bertini, Riccardo Ceccanti, Matteo Torre, Iacopo Jorissen, Bert Reserbat-Plantey, Antoine Watanabe, Kenji Taniguchi, Takashi Covaci, Lucian Milošević, Milorad V. Fal'ko, Vladimir Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo Kumar, Roshan Krishna Koppens, Frank H. L. |
| author_facet | Nowakowski, Krystian Agarwal, Hitesh Slizovskiy, Sergey Smeyers, Robin Wang, Xueqiao Zheng, Zhiren Barrier, Julien Ruiz, David Barcons Li, Geng Bertini, Riccardo Ceccanti, Matteo Torre, Iacopo Jorissen, Bert Reserbat-Plantey, Antoine Watanabe, Kenji Taniguchi, Takashi Covaci, Lucian Milošević, Milorad V. Fal'ko, Vladimir Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo Kumar, Roshan Krishna Koppens, Frank H. L. |
| contents | Detecting individual light quanta is essential for quantum information, space exploration, advanced machine vision, and fundamental science. Here, we introduce a novel single photon detection mechanism using highly photosensitive non-equilibrium electron phases in moiré materials. Using tunable bands in bilayer graphene/hexagonal-boron nitride superlattices, we engineer negative differential conductance and a sensitive bistable state capable of detecting single photons. Operating in this regime, we demonstrate single-photon counting at mid-infrared (11.3 microns) and visible wavelengths (675 nanometres) and temperatures up to 25 K. This detector offers new prospects for broadband, high-temperature quantum technologies with CMOS compatibility and seamless integration into photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Our analysis suggests the mechanism underlying our device operation originates from negative differential velocity, and represents an important milestone in the field of high-bias transport in two-dimensional moiré quantum materials. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_13637 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Single-photon detection enabled by negative differential conductivity in moiré superlattices Nowakowski, Krystian Agarwal, Hitesh Slizovskiy, Sergey Smeyers, Robin Wang, Xueqiao Zheng, Zhiren Barrier, Julien Ruiz, David Barcons Li, Geng Bertini, Riccardo Ceccanti, Matteo Torre, Iacopo Jorissen, Bert Reserbat-Plantey, Antoine Watanabe, Kenji Taniguchi, Takashi Covaci, Lucian Milošević, Milorad V. Fal'ko, Vladimir Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo Kumar, Roshan Krishna Koppens, Frank H. L. Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Applied Physics Optics Detecting individual light quanta is essential for quantum information, space exploration, advanced machine vision, and fundamental science. Here, we introduce a novel single photon detection mechanism using highly photosensitive non-equilibrium electron phases in moiré materials. Using tunable bands in bilayer graphene/hexagonal-boron nitride superlattices, we engineer negative differential conductance and a sensitive bistable state capable of detecting single photons. Operating in this regime, we demonstrate single-photon counting at mid-infrared (11.3 microns) and visible wavelengths (675 nanometres) and temperatures up to 25 K. This detector offers new prospects for broadband, high-temperature quantum technologies with CMOS compatibility and seamless integration into photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Our analysis suggests the mechanism underlying our device operation originates from negative differential velocity, and represents an important milestone in the field of high-bias transport in two-dimensional moiré quantum materials. |
| title | Single-photon detection enabled by negative differential conductivity in moiré superlattices |
| topic | Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Applied Physics Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.13637 |