Single-photon detection enabled by negative differential conductivity in moiré superlattices

Detecting individual light quanta is essential for quantum information, space exploration, advanced machine vision, and fundamental science. In this work, we introduce a single-photon detection mechanism using highly photosensitive nonequilibrium electron phases in moiré materials. Using tunable ban...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Nowakowski, Krystian, Agarwal, Hitesh, Slizovskiy, Sergey, Smeyers, Robin, Wang, Xueqiao, Zheng, Zhiren, Barrier, Julien, Barcons Ruiz, David|||0000-0002-6271-2244, Torre, Iacopo|||0000-0001-6515-181X, Jorissen, Bert, Reserbat-Plantey, Antoine, Watanabe, Kenji, Taniguchi, Takashi, Covaci, Lucian, Milosevic, Milorad, Fal’ko, Vladimir, Jarillo Herrero, Pablo, Krishna Kumar, Roshan, Koppens, Frank
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/442509
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/442509
https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adu5329
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria de la telecomunicació::Telecomunicació òptica::Fotònica
Descripción
Sumario:Detecting individual light quanta is essential for quantum information, space exploration, advanced machine vision, and fundamental science. In this work, we introduce a single-photon detection mechanism using highly photosensitive nonequilibrium electron phases in moiré materials. Using tunable bands in bilayer graphene/hexagonal boron nitride superlattices, we engineer negative differential conductance and a sensitive bistable state capable of detecting single photons. Operating in this regime, we demonstrate single-photon counting at mid-infrared (11.3 micrometers) and visible wavelengths (675 nanometers) and temperatures up to 25 kelvin. This detector offers prospects for broadband, high-temperature quantum technologies with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor compatibility and seamless integration into photonic-integrated circuits. Our analysis suggests that the underlying mechanism originates from superlattice-induced negative differential velocity.

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