All-silicon light-emitting diodes waveguide-integrated with superconducting single-photon detectors.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optoelectronics
• Semiconductor device physics
• Quantum information science

Background:

• Silicon photonics is crucial for integrated circuits, but efficient light emission remains a challenge.
• Existing silicon light sources often lack integration capabilities with detectors.
• Mid-infrared emission is vital for various sensing and communication applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate cryogenic, electrically injected silicon light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at 1.22 µm.
• To integrate these silicon LEDs with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) on a single chip.
• To showcase the scalability of this integrated platform.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of waveguide-coupled silicon LEDs using W-center implantation in a p-i-n diode structure.
• Cryogenic testing of the light-emitting diodes to characterize their performance.
• Integration of LEDs with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on silicon photonic waveguides.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of cryogenic, electrically injected silicon LEDs emitting at 1.22 µm.
• Integration of a single silicon LED with eleven superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on a chip.
• Validation of the platform's scalability and potential for complex photonic circuits.

Conclusions:

• The developed silicon LED platform offers a promising route for integrated optoelectronics at 1.22 µm.
• The integration with SNSPDs paves the way for on-chip quantum photonic systems.
• This scalable approach advances the development of silicon-based light sources and detectors.