• Photonics Research
  • Vol. 9, Issue 2, 259 (2021)
Kun Huang1、*, Yinqi Wang1, Jianan Fang1, Weiyan Kang2, Ying Sun2, Yan Liang2, Qiang Hao2, Ming Yan1, and Heping Zeng1、3、4、5、6
Author Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
  • 2School of Optical Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
  • 3Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, Jinan 250101, China
  • 4CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 5Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Sciences, Shanghai 201315, China
  • 6e-mail: hpzeng@phy.ecnu.edu.cn
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    DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.410302 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Kun Huang, Yinqi Wang, Jianan Fang, Weiyan Kang, Ying Sun, Yan Liang, Qiang Hao, Ming Yan, Heping Zeng. Mid-infrared photon counting and resolving via efficient frequency upconversion[J]. Photonics Research, 2021, 9(2): 259 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Optical detectors with single-photon sensitivity and large dynamic range would facilitate a variety of applications. Specifically, the capability of extending operation wavelengths into the mid-infrared region is highly attractive. Here we implement a mid-infrared frequency upconversion detector for counting and resolving photons at 3 μm. Thanks to the spectrotemporal engineering of the involved optical fields, the mid-infrared photons could be spectrally translated into the visible band with a conversion efficiency of 80%. In combination with a silicon avalanche photodiode, we obtained unprecedented performance with a high overall detection efficiency of 37% and a low noise equivalent power of 1.8×10-17 W/Hz1/2. Furthermore, photon-number-resolving detection at mid-infrared wavelengths was demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, with a multipixel photon counter. The implemented upconversion detector exhibited a maximal resolving photon number up to 9 with a noise probability per pulse of 0.14% at the peak detection efficiency. The achieved photon counting and resolving performance might open up new possibilities in trace molecule spectroscopy, sensitive biochemical sensing, and free-space communications, among others.
    H^=igα(a^1a^3H.c.),

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    a^3(L)=sin(|gα|L)a^1(0)+cos(|gα|L)a^3(0).

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    η=N3(L)/N1(0)=ηmsin2(|gα|L)=ηmsin2(π/2P/Pm),

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    η¯=+sin2[π/2Ip(t)/Ip(0)]×Is(t)dt+Is(t)dt,

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    Kun Huang, Yinqi Wang, Jianan Fang, Weiyan Kang, Ying Sun, Yan Liang, Qiang Hao, Ming Yan, Heping Zeng. Mid-infrared photon counting and resolving via efficient frequency upconversion[J]. Photonics Research, 2021, 9(2): 259
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