Broadband optical modulation and control at millikelvin temperatures

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Cryogenics

Background:

• Studying radiation effects on cryogenic devices requires precise characterization of position-dependent responses near the energy detection threshold.
• Existing methods face challenges in accurately measuring device performance at cryogenic temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a novel cryogenic optical beam steering system.
• To enable precise calibration and characterization of photon-sensitive detectors at cryogenic temperatures.
• To facilitate the study of radiation effects and device physics in cryogenic sensors.

Main Methods:

• Development of a compact cryogenic optical beam steering system.
• Generation of microsecond pulses of low photon counts (1.3-3.4 eV).
• Fiber optic delivery of photons to specific detector locations at cryogenic temperatures.

Main Results:

• The system allows for O(μs) pulsed photon delivery to cryogenic detectors.
• Demonstrated capability for robust calibration of photon-sensitive detectors, including superconducting devices.
• First results obtained from a second-generation system operated at room temperature and sub-Kelvin.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a significant advancement for calibrating cryogenic detectors.
• Enables detailed investigation of radiation effects, sensor design, and fundamental physics.
• Provides a versatile tool for diverse applications in quantum sensing and detector physics.