Detection of Single Submillimeter-Wave Photons Using Quantum Dots

S. Komiyamaa, O. Astafievb, V. Antonovb and T. Kutsuwaa a Department of Basic Science, University of Tokyo Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan b Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST) Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan

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Single-photon detection in a range of submillimeter waves (λ = 0.17-0.20 mm) is demonstrated by using lateral semiconductor quantum dots fabricated on a high-mobility GaAs/AlGaAs single heterostructure crystal. When a submillimeter photon is absorbed by the quantum dot while it is operated as a single-electron transistor, it switches on (or off) the conductance through the quantum dot. An incident flux of 0.1 photons/s on an effective detector area, (0.1 mm)2, is detected with a 1 ms time resolution. The effective noise equivalent power is roughly estimated to reach on the order of 10-22 W/Hz1/2, a value superior to the ever reported best values of conventional detectors by a factor more than 104.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.98.271 PACS numbers: 72.20.Ht, 73.40.Hm, 76.40.+b