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 (La_0.99Ce_0.01B₆) 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.