More than one photon detection using four-layer thermoelectric single-photon detector

Abstract

We present the results of modeling and simulation of heat propagation processes taking place in SiO2/W/CeB6/W fourlayer detection pixel of a thermoelectric single-photon detector after absorption of one photon or simultaneous absorption of more than one photon with energy 8 eV (UV) and 0.8 eV (NIR) at different distances from each other. We use the detection pixel model with a surface of 10 μm × 10 μm and layers thicknesses of 0.1 μm and 0.01 μm. Calculations were carried out based on the equation of heat propagation from a limited volume using the three-dimensional matrix method for differential equations. We have shown that a thermoelectric detector is able to count the number of absorbed photons up to four.