Nanoscale optical detector with single-photon and multiphoton Sensitivity

We present the first nanoscale (down to ≈50 × 50 nm2) detector displaying single-photon sensitivity and a nanosecond response. This type of nanodetector can also be operated in multiphoton mode, where the detection threshold can be set at N = 1, 2, 3, or 4 photons, thus allowing the mapping of photon number statistics on the nanoscale. Its operation principle based on that of hot-spot formation in superconducting nanowires allies the temporal resolution and sensitivity of superconducting single-photon detectors with subwavelength resolution and photon number discrimination. Such detectors can be of great interest for the study of nanophotonic devices at low temperature

Electrical injection of a photonic crystal nanocavity

The possibility of electrical pumping of a single QD and the integration of such a device in an opto-electronic circuit would be a fundamental step towards achieving an on demand single photon source. In this paper we describe the fabrication process and preliminary results of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) integrated with a photonic crystal (PhC) nanocavity on a GaAs membrane. We demonstrate effective electric pumping of the QDs embedded into the membrane by contacting the doped layers (p and n) of the thin membrane, and the excitation of cavity modes of the PhC nanocavity fabricated on it at telecom wavelength