Reconfigurable memlogic long wave infrared sensing with superconductors

Area of Science:

• Quantum computing and sensing
• Materials science and engineering
• Optoelectronics and photonics

Background:

• Current optical sensors face limitations beyond traditional von Neumann architectures.
• Superconductors offer quantum-limited optical sensitivity and broad spectrum coverage.
• Integrating logic and memory into sensors is key for advanced machine vision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel superconducting memlogic sensor for long-wave infrared (LWIR) detection.
• To demonstrate in-sensor switching capabilities for reconfigurable logic systems.
• To achieve high infrared sensitivity using an integrated metamaterial absorber.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the bistability in hysteretic superconductor-normal phase transitions.
• Employed cooperative electrical and optical pulses for deterministic state switching.
• Integrated a metamaterial perfect absorber for enhanced infrared sensitivity at 12.2 μm.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated deterministic switching between resistive and superconducting states with persistence > 10^5 s.
• Achieved a resilient, reconfigurable memlogic system suitable for applications like encrypted communications.
• Obtained high infrared sensitivity at 12.2 μm due to the in-situ metamaterial design.

Conclusions:

• Pioneered all-in-one superconducting memlogic sensors, surpassing biological retina capabilities.
• Opened avenues for integrating visual perception into superconductor-based intelligent quantum machines.
• The developed sensor technology offers a pathway towards next-generation computing and sensing.