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#  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.*

 ![MURI_basic_idea](/sites/g/files/omnuum10801/files/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-14%20at%201.31.46%E2%80%AFPM.png)

 



 

 ### 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.

 ![Muri_Team](/sites/g/files/omnuum10801/files/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-14%20at%201.36.36%E2%80%AFPM.png)