Large area photodetector based on microwave cavity perturbation techniques

Journal Article · Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4891518· OSTI ID:22308569

Carugno, G.; Sirugudu, R. K. ^[1]; Lombardi, A.; Ruoso, G. ^[2]

---

1. Dip. di Fisica e Astronomia and INFN Sez. di Padova, Via F. Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padova (Italy)
2. INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Viale dell'Università 2, I-35020 Legnaro (Italy)

We present a preliminary study to develop a large area photodetector, based on a semiconductor crystal placed inside a superconducting resonant cavity. Laser pulses are detected through a variation of the cavity impedance, as a consequence of the conductivity change in the semiconductor. A novel method, whereby the designed photodetector is simulated by finite element analysis, makes it possible to perform pulse-height spectroscopy on the reflected microwave signals. We measure an energy sensitivity of 100 fJ in the average mode without the employment of low noise electronics and suggest possible ways to further reduce the single-shot detection threshold, based on the results of the described method.

• OSTI ID: 22308569
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 116, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CAVITY RESONATORS
CRYSTALS
DETECTION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NOISE
PERTURBATION THEORY
PHOTODETECTORS
PULSES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
SPECTROSCOPY
SUPERCONDUCTING CAVITY RESONATORS