Platinum-Containing Detection Pixel of a Thermoelectric Single-Photon Detector

Using computer simulation, the processes of heat propagation were studied and noise was determined in a three-layer detection pixel of a thermoelectric single-photon detector, consisting of an absorber (Pt), a thermoelectric sensor (La0.99Ce0.01B6) and a heat sink (Pt, Mo). The absorption of photons with energies of 0.8-7.1 eV (1550-175 nm) in absorbers of various thicknesses, providing high absorption efficiency, was studied. The simulation was based on the heat propagation equations from a limited volume. The temporal dependencies of the signal appearing on the sensor were studied. Signal power, noise equivalent power, and signal-to-noise ratio were determined. It was shown that a detection pixel with a platinum absorber can reliably detect single photons with the energy of 3.1-7.1 eV.