CeB 6 as a prospective material for cryogenic thermoelectric single photon detectors

Abstract

We evaluate the prospects of cerium hexaboride (CeB 6 ) crystals for use as a sensitive element in so-called QVD thermoelectric single photon detectors, which operate at cryogenic temperatures. By gathering and analyzing the values of the thermoelectric parameters for CeB 6 reported in the literature up to this date, we have evaluated the promise of cerium hexaborides as a sensitive element in thermoelectric single photon detectors at temperatures above 4K. We have concluded that such detectors can detect a single UV photon, have very fast count rate (up to 100 MHz) and a spectral resolution of 12.7 eV. QVD detectors based on CeB 6 crystals, by virtue of operating at temperatures above 4 K, can have a wider field of application.