Quantum ENZ Materials for Midwave IR Single-Photon Detection

The QEMISD MURI program aims to enable room-temperature quantum nondemolition (QND) detection of single midwave infrared (MWIR) photons—distinguishing them from thermal background photons—by exploiting extreme nonlinear optical responses in epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials.

Goal: “fish” a MWIR single photon out of a sea of thermal photons.

Nonlinear ENZ media

Design ENZ media with very large Kerr nonlinearities while keeping loss low.

Ultra-high-SNR MWIR detectors

Develop MWIR detectors with extremely high signal-to-noise ratio at room temperature.

QND system integration

Integrate materials + detectors into demonstrator QND detection platforms for MWIR photons.

How QEMISD Works

Quantum nondemolition (QND) detection measures a property of light—here, the photon number—while avoiding measurement back-action on the observable of interest. In QEMISD, a MWIR signal field and a strong probe co-propagate through a Kerr nonlinear medium where cross-phase modulation (XPM) imprints a phase shift on the probe that is proportional to the signal photon number. The probe phase is then measured interferometrically using balanced detection.

ENZ and zero-index metamaterials offer a path to overcome the two central challenges: (1) maximize XPM while minimizing loss and (2) maximize sensitivity while minimizing noise—making them promising for ultra-low-power QND measurements and detector integration.

Integrated Research Thrusts (IRTs)

QEMISD is organized into three parallel Integrated Research Thrusts, spanning theory, design, fabrication, characterization, and device integration.

IRT 1 — ENZ XPM platform for QND detection

Develop low-loss, strongly nonlinear ENZ (meta)materials to enhance MWIR XPM, enabling QND detection at probe powers low enough to avoid material damage; establish theoretical/computational frameworks and integrate ENZ hosts into QND platforms.

IRT 2 — ENZ-enhanced MWIR Topological Photodiode

Engineer ENZ–topological heterostructures for MWIR photovoltaic detectivity approaching the blackbody background limit at room temperature, including perfect-absorption structures and intrinsic photovoltaic effects in quantum materials.

IRT 3 — Nanophotonic MWIR ENZ Thermopile

Realize plasmonic ENZ bolometers/thermopiles with high thermovoltage and narrow spectral selectivity for low-noise MWIR photon counting; optimize CdO growth and fabricate patterned thermopile arrays.

Multi-Institution Team

QEMISD brings together expertise in nonlinear optics, quantum measurement, ENZ materials, nanofabrication, and MWIR detection across multiple institutions.

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