Tunable Up-Conversion Photon Detector

TL;DR

This paper presents a tunable up-conversion photon detector that enhances bandwidth and detection capabilities at telecom wavelengths by combining nonlinear conversion with high-speed photodiodes.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, tunable scheme for up-conversion detection that significantly increases bandwidth for low-light and single-photon applications.

Findings

Over ten-fold increase in detectable bandwidth

Effective combination of nonlinear conversion and silicon photodiodes

Applicable for high temporal resolution and high count rate detection

Abstract

We introduce a simple approach for a tunable up-conversion detector. This scheme is relevant for both single photon detection or anywhere where low light levels at telecom wavelengths need to be detected with a high degree of temporal resolution or where high count rates are desired. A system combining a periodically poled Lithium niobate waveguide for the nonlinear wavelength conversion and a low jitter Silicon avalanche photodiode are used in conjunction with a tunable pump source. We report more than a ten-fold increase in the detectable bandwidth using this tuning scheme.