Developing Cameras Sensitive Enough to Detect Single Photons

Ph.D. researchers Sarah Odinotski and Jack DeGooyer from the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are working on ultra-sensitive cameras designed to detect individual photons.

The significance of their ambitious project was reinforced when both received prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for their distinct yet complementary research.

Odinotski is a member of the Quantum Photonic Devices Laboratory, led by Dr. Michael Reimer. Her research centers on developing sensors capable of detecting single photons, the fundamental units of light. By designing precisely structured metamaterials, she aims to capture individual photons and convert them into measurable electronic signals.

If you throw a snowball off the side of a cliff, it'll start rolling and will create an avalanche. The structures within our metamaterial are capable of efficiently generating one electron from the single absorbed photon. It can then take that electron and multiply it into millions of electrons to create an ‘avalanche’ of current.

Sarah Odinotski, Ph.D. Researcher, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo

DeGooyer aims to build a fully functional camera using these sensors in the same lab. To make this possible, he is developing microcircuits capable of processing and tracking the faint signals generated by the sensors.

What I’m doing is making scales the width of a human hair. The scales count electrons as they’re passing by.

Jack DeGooyer, Ph.D. Researcher, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo

A crucial step in this process is scaling up individual sensors into a system capable of capturing detailed images with near-perfect sensitivity.

This technology has many impactful applications, from astronomy to quantum computing. One of the team's key motivations is its potential use in medical imaging. They believe their system could enable more precise detection of cancerous cells, leading to faster diagnoses and improved treatment options.

The two Vanier awards highlight not only the promise of this research but also the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in driving new discoveries.

It’s an affirmation of the research and the different philosophies that both Sarah and I bring to the project.

Jack DeGooyer, Ph.D. Researcher, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo

Video Credit: University of Waterloo