Scientists at NIST have developed superconducting nanowire detectors that can efficiently record single photons at mid-infrared wavelengths up to 10 micrometers, five times longer than previously possible. These detectors could revolutionize research and applications in various fields, including the search for chemical signs of life on other planets, stealth navigation of vehicles, and the search for dark matter.
The ability to detect individual mid-infrared photons is particularly important for astronomers hunting for biological activity beyond the solar system. Space-based telescopes already use conventional mid-infrared photon detectors, but they lack the accuracy of single-photon detectors, which can be critical when light levels are low.
The nanowires, made from thin films of tungsten silicide, are cooled to a few degrees above absolute zero, making them superconducting. This allows electrons in the wires to absorb a tiny amount of energy from an incoming photon to generate an electrical signal. The low temperature also limits random electronic noise in the detectors, which is important when sensing low levels of light.
The team is working to create a nanowire detector large enough to detect mid-infrared photons from faint starlight and collaborating with DARPA on a more immediate application: navigation of military vehicles under very low light levels. The researchers estimate that one of their devices could be installed on a vehicle within the next five years.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2021/06/detecting-mid-infrared-light-one-photon-time
Keywords: Nanowire, Superconducting, Mid-IR, Photon, Quantum
