Overview on Low-flux Detectors

TL;DR

This paper compares various quantum information single-photon detectors with traditional detectors like PMTs and CCDs, highlighting TESs as the most promising alternative for low-flux WISP detection in laboratory experiments.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of QI SPDs and traditional detectors, identifying TESs as the best option for focused low-flux signals in WISP searches.

Findings

TESs outperform other QI SPDs for micro-meter scale focusing.

Only TESs are viable alternatives to CCDs for low-flux detection.

Traditional detectors like PMTs and CCDs are less suitable for this application.

Abstract

Laboratory based searches for weakly-interacting slim particles (WISPs) of the light-shining-through-a-wall type (LSW) use visible or near-infrared (NIR) laser light. Low-noise and highly efficient detectors are necessary to improve over previous experiments. These requirements overlap with the requirements for single-photon detectors (SPDs) for quantum information (QI) experiments. In this contribution, the sensitivity of several QI SPDs is compared to photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs) and imaging charge-coupled devices (CCDs). It is found that only transition edge sensors (TESs) are viable alternatives to CCDs if the signal can be focussed to a few micro meters.