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APS » Journals » Phys. Rev. Lett. » Volume 94 » Issue 6
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 067401 (2005) [4 pages]

Efficient Single Photon Detection by Quantum Dot Resonant Tunneling Diodes

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J. C. Blakesley1,2, P. See1, A. J. Shields1, B. E. Kardynał1, P. Atkinson2, I. Farrer2, and D. A. Ritchie2
1Toshiba Research Europe Ltd., 260 Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0WE, United Kingdom
2Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom

Received 10 June 2004; revised 15 October 2004; published 16 February 2005

We demonstrate that the resonant tunnel current through a double-barrier structure is sensitive to the capture of single photoexcited holes by an adjacent layer of quantum dots. This phenomenon could allow the detection of single photons with low dark count rates and high quantum efficiencies. The magnitude of the sensing current may be controlled via the thickness of the tunnel barriers. Larger currents give improved signal to noise and allow sub-μs photon time resolution.

© 2005 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.067401
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.067401
PACS:
85.60.Gz, 85.30.–z, 85.35.Be, 85.35.Gv
 
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