High performance and broadband nanoscale thermoelectric single-photon detector

Single-photon detection is foundational to several emerging applications, including quantum technologies, highenergy physics, astronomy, photonics, telecommunications, space communications, and medical devices. Currently, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors are widely used due to their high efficiency, fast operation speed, and broad bandwidth. At the same time, theoretical predictions and computer simulations suggest that thermoelectric detectors could also achieve single-photon detection with high performance. In this study, we present the results of computer simulations on heat propagation processes within a multilayer detection pixel following single-photon absorption. We investigated the characteristics of the propagation of heat released by a photon in a detection pixel consisting of a tungsten absorber, a lanthanum-cerium hexaboride thermoelectric sensor, and a molybdenum heat sink with a surface area of 0.25 and 1 μm² with a variation in operating temperature in the range of 0.5 - 1.5 K. Our results show that terahertz count rates and microvolt-level signals can be achieved for photons in the near-infrared to visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.