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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 73: Quantum Technologies (Detectors and Photon Sources) (joint session Q/QI)
Q 73.1: Talk
Friday, March 14, 2025, 14:30–14:45, AP-HS
Niobium-based plasmonic superconducting photodetectors for IR — •Sandra Mennle1, Philipp Karl1, Monika Ubl1, Pavel Ruchka1, Heidemarie Schmidt2, and Harald Giessen1 — 14th Physics Institute, Research Center SCoPE, and IQST, University of Stuttgart, Germany — 2Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
In the last decade photon-based quantum technologies have become a fast-growing field of research, which requires fast and reliable detectors. Moreover, applications in the mid-IR like spectroscopy or astronomic photography are in need for highly efficient photodetection. For these applications superconducting nanowire photon detectors feature a great potential due to their high efficiency and sensitivity.
To enhance the absorption at larger wavelengths in the IR spectral range, we are using a plasmonic perfect absorber geometry to match the optical impedance of the detector to the incident light and to suppress any reflection. By design plasmonic resonances feature a large bandwidth, polarization sensitivity and can easily be spectrally tuned.
We present detectors which reach an absorption of over 95% for wavelengths up to 4 μm and demonstrate nanostructures with 90% absorption in 8-12 μm spectral range. This concept than can be extended to use not only one, but multiple detectors which then form a detector array i.e. a highly sensitive camera with plasmonically enhanced efficiency.
Keywords: Plasmonics; infrared; Photodetector