Back to results
US 12,523,525 B2Granted
Method of detecting photons and photon detector arrangement
AssigneesNanyang Technological University, University of Southampton
InventorsAnton Vetlugin, Cesare Soci, Nikolay Ivanovich Zheludev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method of detecting photons is provided. The method includes arranging a plurality of light absorbing elements to interact with an electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of points of the electromagnetic standing wave to absorb at least part of the electromagnetic standing wave, the plurality of light absorbing elements being spaced apart from each other, and detecting electrical signals generated in response to the absorption to detect photons corresponding to the electromagnetic standing wave. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a photon detector arrangement is also provided.
Claims9
A method of detecting photons comprising:
- arranging a plurality of light absorbing elements along an optical axis of an electromagnetic standing wave to simultaneously interact with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of points of the electromagnetic standing wave to absorb at least part of the electromagnetic standing wave, the plurality of light absorbing elements being spaced apart from each other;
- arranging a plurality of optically transparent physical spacers, wherein a respective optically transparent physical spacer of the plurality of optically transparent physical spacers is arranged in between respective two adjacent light absorbing elements of the plurality of light absorbing elements;
- and
- detecting, using a circuit, electrical signals generated in response to the absorption to detect photons corresponding to the electromagnetic standing wave;
- wherein the circuit is defined by a plurality of sub-circuits, where a respective sub-circuit of the plurality of sub-circuits is electrically coupled to a respective light absorbing element of the plurality of light absorbing elements;
- wherein, for each spacing between respective two adjacent light absorbing elements of the plurality of light absorbing elements, the spacing is equal to a whole number of half of a wavelength of the electromagnetic standing wave, such that a relative movement between the plurality of light absorbing elements arranged along the optical axis of the electromagnetic standing wave and the electromagnetic standing wave switches the plurality of light absorbing elements between a total light absorption mode in which the plurality of light absorbing elements interacts with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of anti-nodes of the electromagnetic standing wave, and a total light transmission mode in which the plurality of light absorbing elements interacts with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of nodes of the electromagnetic standing wave;
- and
- wherein the relative movement is made by mechanically moving the plurality of elements.
5 more elements
A photon detector arrangement comprising:
- a plurality of light absorbing elements configured to be arranged along an optical axis of an electromagnetic standing wave and spaced apart from each other to interact simultaneously with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of points of the electromagnetic standing wave to absorb at least part of the electromagnetic standing wave;
- a plurality of optically transparent physical spacers, wherein a respective optically transparent physical spacer of the plurality of optically transparent physical spacers is arranged in between respective two adjacent light absorbing elements of the plurality of light absorbing elements;
- and
- a circuit configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of light absorbing elements, the circuit being configured to detect electrical signals generated in response to the absorption to detect photons corresponding to the electromagnetic standing wave;
- wherein the circuit is defined by a plurality of sub-circuits, where a respective sub-circuit of the plurality of sub-circuits is electrically coupled to a respective light absorbing element of the plurality of light absorbing elements;
- wherein, for each spacing between respective two adjacent light absorbing elements of the plurality of light absorbing elements, the spacing is equal to a whole number of half of a wavelength of the electromagnetic standing wave, such that a relative movement between the plurality of light absorbing elements arranged along the optical axis of the electromagnetic standing wave and the electromagnetic standing wave switches the plurality of light absorbing elements between a total light absorption mode in which the plurality of light absorbing elements interacts with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of anti-nodes of the electromagnetic standing wave, and a total light transmission mode in which the plurality of light absorbing elements interacts with the electromagnetic standing wave at a corresponding plurality of nodes of the electromagnetic standing wave;
- and
- wherein the relative movement is made by mechanically moving the plurality of elements.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.