Simple, high-efficiency, single-photon trap detectors

Abstract

A problem in quantum mechanical interference experiments at the single-photon level is that the highest detection efficiency obtained so far with an avalanche photodiode is only 76%. We present two designs for simple light-trapping arrangements using one or two avalanche photodiodes which could yield detection efficiencies up to 97% in photon-counting experiments involving laser beams or down-converted beams with low divergence.