NIST researchers have developed a new single-photon detector array that can identify individual photons in the mid-infrared wavelength range. This is significant because mid-infrared light has longer wavelengths and lower energy compared to visible light, making it more challenging to detect single photons.
The detector array consists of multiple super-cold detectors arranged in a grid with an electrical current flowing through them. When a photon strikes a detector, it creates a hot spot that temporarily blocks the current. By analyzing the pattern of blocked currents, researchers can determine the location of the photon strike and create single-photon images.
This new detector technology has potential applications in various scientific fields, including spectroscopy, where it can help identify the unique “color fingerprints” of different molecules. The development of this mid-infrared single-photon detector array represents an important step forward in the exploration of the universe’s smallest particles of light.
Keywords: Single-photon detector, Mid-infrared, Spectroscopy, Photons, Quantum devices
