Near-single-photon atto-watt detection at mid-infrared wavelengths by a room-temperature balanced heterodyne set-up

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09462v1
• Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:12:57 GMT
• Title: Near-single-photon atto-watt detection at mid-infrared wavelengths by a room-temperature balanced heterodyne set-up
• Authors: Daniele Palaferri, Lorenzo Mancini, Chiara Vecchi, Leonardo Daga, Pierfrancesco Ulpiani, Massimiliano Proietti, Carlo Liorni, Massimiliano Dispenza, Francesco Cappelli, Paolo De Natale, Simone Borri,
• Abstract summary: Single photon detection is the underpinning technology for quantum communication and quantum sensing applications. Here, we demonstrate a room-temperature detection system operating at 4.6$mu$m-wavelength with a sensitivity-level of atto-watt optical power. This result was obtained by exploiting a pair of commercially available photodetectors within two balanced-heterodyne-detection setups.
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• Abstract: 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$\mu$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$\mu$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.

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