Thermal noise in mid-infrared broadband upconversion detectors

Barh, Ajanta; Tidemand-Lichtenberg, Peter; Pedersen, Christian

doi:10.1364/oe.26.003249

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The relatively high optical absorption of proustite at 10.6 µm leads to a µW level of up-noise power in their experimental setup. Later on, the spatial and spectral distribution of such thermal noise have been theoretically estimated and experimentally demonstrated using LiNbO3 and LiIO3 crystals for narrowband as well as broadband upconversion [109]- [112]. Recently, Barh et al [109] measured a total upconverted thermal noise power of ~ 30 pW at room temperature for broadband upconversion in the 3.5 -5 µm range in a bulk PPLN crystal using a 1064 nm CW pump.…”

Section: Optical Noise Generated In An Upconversion Module (Up-noise)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric upconversion imaging and its applications

Barh¹,

Rodrigo²,

Meng³

et al. 2019

Adv. Opt. Photon.

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This article provides an extensive survey of nonlinear parametric upconversion infrared (IR) imaging, starting from its origin to date. Upconversion imaging is a successful innovative technique for IR imaging in terms of sensitivity, speed, and noise performance. In this approach, the IR image is frequency upconverted to form a visible/near-IR image through parametric three-wave mixing followed by detection using a silicon-based detector or camera. In 1968 (50 years back), J. E. Midwinter first demonstrated upconversion imaging from shortwave-IR (1.6 μm) to visible (484 nm) wavelength using a bulk lithium niobate crystal. This technique quickly gained interest, and several other groups demonstrated upconversion imaging further into the mid-and far-IR with significantly improved quantum efficiency. Although a few excellent reviews on upconversion imaging were published in the early 1970's, the rapid progress in recent years merits an updated comprehensive review. The topic includes linear imaging, nonlinear optics, and laser science, and has shown diverse applications. The scope of this article is to provide an in-depth knowledge of upconversion imaging theory. An overview of different phase matching conditions for the parametric process and the sensitivity of the upconversion detection system are discussed. Furthermore, different design considerations and optimization schemes are outlined for application-specific upconversion imaging. The article comprises a historical perspective of the technique, its most recent technological advances, specific outstanding issues, and some cutting-edge applications of upconversion in IR imaging.

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Section: Optical Noise Generated In An Upconversion Module (Up-noise)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric upconversion imaging and its applications

Barh¹,

Rodrigo²,

Meng³

et al. 2019

Adv. Opt. Photon.

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“…To our best knowledge, the two primary noise sources in a PPLN upconversion module are upconverted thermal [4] and spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) noise [11]. According to Kirchhoffs radiation law, the PPLN generates thermal radiation in the 2 -5 µm range, emitted in all direction, due to its finite temperature and absorption coefficient.…”

Section: A Optical Noise Originating From the Upconversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been shown to have low noise and work well with spectroscopic methods used in, for instance, combustion physics [2], [3]. However, depending on the wavelength of detection and the nonlinear material, upconversion cannot remove the environmental thermal noise completely [4], and the spectral or temporal noise of the mixing laser will be added to the signal [5]. Previously, NEP of around 1 × 10 −17 fW/ √ Hz have been measured for upconversion detector working in CW [6], and for pulsed [7] NIR systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the NEP of Mid-Infrared Upconversion Detectors

Pedersen

Høgstedt²,

Barh

et al. 2019

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.

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We present a scheme to estimate the noise equivalent power (NEP) of the frequency upconversion detectors (UCDs), detecting mid-infrared (MIR) light. The NEP of UCD is a combined contribution of NEPs from the upconversion process and from the photodetector, used for detecting the upconverted signal. The 2 − 5 µm MIR range is particularly investigated in this letter using a bulk periodically poled lithium niobate based CW-intracavity UCD. We measured the NEP of UCD as 20 fW/ √ Hz at MIR wavelength of 3.39 µm. We showed that the limiting factor here is not the noise from the upconversion process (estimated NEP is 2.3 fW/ √ Hz at 3.39 µm), but from the electrical noise in the photodetector itself. We also compared the performance of our UCD with previously published results and with market available direct MIR detectors. Additionally, we measured the optical noise of the UCD over its working spectral range (2.9 − 3.6 µm) and compared with numerical simulation.

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“…Additionally, silicon photonics also offers a promising platform for chemical and biological sensing in the mid-infrared wavelength range where the fundamental vibrational modes of most chemical bonds are present [20,21]. However, at longer wavelengths background thermal noise becomes an ever larger constraint on device performance [20,22], suggesting that low-temperature operation could be of benefit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature Dependence of the Kerr Nonlinearity and Two-Photon Absorption in a Silicon Waveguide at 1.55 μm

et al. 2019

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We measure the temperature dependence of the two-photon absorption and optical Kerr nonlinearity of a silicon waveguide over a range of temperatures from 5.5 to 300 K at a wavelength of 1.55 µm. The two-photon absorption coefficient is calculated from the power dependent transmission of a 4.9 ps pulse. We observed a nearly two-fold decrease in the two-photon absorption coefficient from 0.76 cm/GW at 300 K to 0.42 cm/GW at 5.5 K. The Kerr nonlinearity is inferred from the self-phase modulation induced spectral broadening of the transmitted pulse. A smaller reduction in Kerr nonlinearity from 5.2 × 10 −18 m 2 /W at 300 K to 3.9 × 10 −18 m 2 /W at 5.5 K is found. The increased ratio of Kerr to absorptive nonlinearity at low temperatures indicates an improved operation of devices that make use of a nonlinear phase shift, such as optical switches or parametric photon-pair sources. We examine how the heralding efficiency of a photon-pair source will change at low temperature. In addition, the modelling and experimental techniques developed can readily be extended to other wavelengths or materials of interest.

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Thermal noise in mid-infrared broadband upconversion detectors

Cited by 31 publications

References 26 publications

Parametric upconversion imaging and its applications

Parametric upconversion imaging and its applications

Characterization of the NEP of Mid-Infrared Upconversion Detectors

Temperature Dependence of the Kerr Nonlinearity and Two-Photon Absorption in a Silicon Waveguide at 1.55 μm

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