Hexaborides of rare earths as a sensor material for thermoelectric single-photon detectors

Abstract

We consider the prospects of crystals of cerium hexaboride CeB6 and lanthanum-cerium hexaborides (La,Ce)B6 as a sensitive element in the so-called QVD thermoelectric single-photon detectors, operating at cryogenic temperatures. We have collected and analyzed the values of thermoelectric parameters of CeB6 and (La,Ce)B6 available in the literature. On this basis we calculated the energy resolution and photon count rate of the future thermoelectric QVD detectors. We conclude that the detectors on CeB6 can register a single X-ray photon, and detectors on (La,Ce)B6 — a single UV photon.