Ultra-sensitive optical detector with high time resolution

• US 7,928,386 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Villegier, Jean-Claude, Frey, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SHUN K
• Application Number:
  US11/911,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 250/336.2
• US Class Current: 250/336.2
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0209 Monolithic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1226 involving surface plasmon interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device

Abstract

An ultra-sensitive optical detector with large time resolution, using a surface plasmon. The optical detector is configured to detect at least one photon, and including a dielectric substrate, and on the substrate, at least one bolometric detection component, that generates an electrical signal from the energy of received photon(s). Additionally, at least one coupling component is formed on the substrate, distinct from the detection component and including a metal component, and generates a surface plasmon by interaction with the photon(s) and guiding the plasmon right up to the detection component, which then absorbs the energy of the surface plasmon.

Claims

1. An optical detector configured to detect at least one photon, comprising:

a dielectric substrate and, on the substrate, at least one bolometric detection component configured to generate an electrical signal from energy of received photon(s);

at least one coupling component formed on the substrate, which is distinct from the bolometric detection component and comprises a metal component which is a coupling and guiding component, configured to generate a surface plasmon by interaction with the photon(s) and to guide the surface plasmon right up to the bolometric detection component, which then absorbs energy of the surface plasmon,

wherein a thickness of the coupling component is greater than a thickness of the bolometric detection component, a width of the coupling component is greater than a width of the bolometric detection component, and the coupling component has an end adjacent to the bolometric detection component that tapers in a thickness direction and a width direction so that the wider and thicker coupling component is coupled to the bolometric detection component; and

a dielectric waveguide disposed on the metal component or formed between the metal component and the substrate, and said dielectric waveguide having a refractive index larger than that of the substrate.

2. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the bolometric detection component forms a strip whose thickness is less than 10 nm and whose length is less than 100 μ

m.

3. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the bolometric detection component comprises a single layer of a material selected from bolometric materials and superconducting materials.

4. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the bolometric detection component comprises a superconducting multilayer forming a tunnel junction and/or a Josephson junction.

5. The detector according to claim 4, wherein the tunnel junction is a magnetic tunnel junction.

6. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the bolometric detection component and the metal component are substantially rectilinear and the metal component is longitudinally extended by the bolometric detection component.

7. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the bolometric detection component and the metal component are substantially rectilinear and the bolometric detection component is perpendicular to the metal component.

8. The detector according to claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber to transport the photon(s) to couple the photon(s) to the at least one coupling component.

9. The detector according to claim 1, wherein each bolometric detection component comprises a superconducting nitride phase.

10. The detector according to claim 9, wherein the superconducting nitride phase is niobium nitride.

11. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide extends above the bolometric detection component.

12. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide is formed on the metal component.

13. The detector according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide is formed between the metal component and the substrate.

14. An optical detector configured to detect at least one photon, comprising:

a dielectric substrate and, on the substrate, at least one bolometric detection component configured to generate an electrical signal from energy of received photon(s); and

at least one coupling component formed on the substrate, which is distinct from the bolometric detection component and comprises a metal component which is a coupling and guiding component, configured to generate a surface plasmon by interaction with the photon(s) and to guide the surface plasmon right up to the bolometric detection component, which then absorbs energy of the surface plasmon,

wherein a thickness of the coupling component is greater than a thickness of the bolometric detection component, a width of the coupling component is greater than a width of the bolometric detection component, and the coupling component has an end adjacent to the bolometric detection component that tapers in a thickness direction and a width direction so that the wider and thicker coupling component is coupled to the bolometric detection component.