Emerging Topics in Single-Photon Detectors

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 169

Special Issue Editor

Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Interests: CMOS photonics; nanophotonics; chip-based imaging/sensing; low-light imaging/sensing; computational imaging; semiconductor physics; microelectronics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent times, there has been a noticeable surge in research interest surrounding photodetectors designed to achieve single-photon sensitivity. This burgeoning interest is primarily motivated by the demands of imaging and sensing tasks with low photon budgets, such as LiDAR, deep tissue imaging, and quantum information applications. Two prominent examples of such detectors include single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). Research efforts related to these detectors span a wide spectrum, encompassing process development with emerging materials, strategic integration at the system level, and the development of algorithms for image reconstruction.

We extend a warm invitation for submissions to this Special Issue, entitled "Emerging Topics in Single-Photon Detectors", in the form of basic research, methodological investigations, and cutting-edge applied research. Both regular research papers and comprehensive review articles are welcome, addressing the following areas:

  • Fundamental research delving into the physics and signal processing techniques that account for the quantum nature of single-photon detection;
  • Modeling and fabrication techniques for single-photon detectors, with a focus on novel material systems and innovative device structure designs;
  • Exploring advanced sensing modalities made possible by single-photon detectors and their diverse range of applications;
  • Advancements in the development of multimodal, multispectral, and/or multiscale sensing systems leveraging single-photon detectors;
  • Innovative data processing methodologies, including the application of advanced algorithms such as machine learning and deep learning;
  • Validation studies showcasing the effectiveness of single-photon detection methods in the context of biomedical and clinical research.

Your contributions to this Special Issue will play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding and application of single-photon detectors across various domains of science and technology.

Dr. Zheng Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • low photon budget
  • LiDAR
  • tissue imaging
  • quantum information
  • SPAD
  • SNSPD
  • signal processing
  • theoretical modeling
  • processing development
  • sensing modalities
  • system integration
  • advanced algorithms
  • clinical research

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission, see below for planned papers.

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: STI patterning to improve FSI PDP of SPAD integrated in FD-SOI CMOS technology
Authors: Shaochen Gao; Duc-Tung Vu; Thibauld Cazimajou; Patrick Pittet; Martine Le Berre; Mohammadreza Dolatpoor Lakeh; Fabien Mandorlo; Régis Orobtchouk; Jean-Baptiste Schell; Jean-Baptiste Kammerer; Andreia Cathelin; Dominique Golanski; Wilfried Uhring; Francis Calmon
Affiliation: INSA Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, INL, UMR5270
Abstract: The integration of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD) in CMOS Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator (FD-SOI) technology under the buried oxide (BOX) and the silicon film containing the transistors makes it possible to realize a 3D SPAD at the chip level. In our study, a nanostructurated layer carried out by an optimized arrangement of the Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) present above the photosensitive zone generates light trapping and consequently light sensitivity increase in front side illumination. A simulation methodology is presented coupling electrical and optical data in order to optimize the STI trenches (size and period) and to estimate the Photon Detection Probability (PDP) gain. Then a test chip was designed, manufactured and characterized demonstrating the PDP improvement thanks to the STI nanostructuring while maintaining a comparable level of Dark Count Rate (DCR).

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