Uncooled Nanopillar Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (NP-SPADs) at Telecommunication Wavelengths

Project Information

NP-SPAD

Grant agreement ID: 844633

DOI 10.3030/844633

Project closed

EC signature date 11 April 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost € 224 933,76

EU contribution € 224 933,76

Coordinated by

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom

Project description

Commercialisation of efficient single-photon detectors for telecom applications imminent

Sending and receiving quantum information over long distances using single photons at telecommunication wavelengths will underpin innovations in remote sensing applications and quantum information processing. The EU-funded NP-SPAD project will develop a device scheme that leverages single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) composed of semiconductor materials that will be operating at 1.55 µm. The aim is to improve photon detection efficiency by 20 % and significantly reduce the dark count rate compared to the commercial Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes. If successful, the project will significantly foster the development and commercialisation of high-performance semiconductor-based SPADs, putting the EU at the forefront of cutting-edge technology in single-photon detection.

Objective

High efficiency detection of single photons at telecommunication wavelengths (notably at 1.55 µm) is critical for emerging technologies, such as free-space and on-fiber quantum information processing, eye-safe and long-distance light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and highly sensitive remote sensing. This research project aims to meet this critical need by developing III-V nanopillar-based uncooled single-photon avalanche diodes (NP-SPADs), which are composed of nanostructured InAsP-InP Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GmAPDs) with self-assembled plasmonic gratings, operating at 1.55 µm. Compared with commercially available InGaAs(P)-InP GmAPDs, the proposed device scheme significantly suppresses thermally generated carriers and trap state population by a factor of 20 to 100 due to the extremely small fill factor of nanopillar arrays (less than 5%). All the while, sufficient optical absorption is maintained via surface plasmon resonance by the plasmonic gratings. The sum combination of these unique capabilities offers the promise of achieving NP-SPADs with free-running mode operation, high photon detection efficiency (PDE; probability of detecting a single photon) of 10 – 20%, low dark count rate (DCR; rate of false detection) of ~50 Hz, and high photon count rate ≥5 MHz. If successful, this approach can drastically stimulate the development and commercialization of high performance semiconductor-based NP-SPADs, putting European Union (EU) at the forefront of cutting-edge technology in single photon detection.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › remote sensing
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › computer hardware › quantum computers
• natural sciences › mathematics › pure mathematics › mathematical analysis › differential equations › partial differential equations
• natural sciences › physical sciences › theoretical physics › particle physics › photons

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

• MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Coordinator

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

• Net EU contribution: € 224 933,76
• Address: NEWPORT ROAD 30 36 ; CF24 0DE Cardiff ; United Kingdom
• Region: Wales › East Wales › Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Total cost: € 224 933,76