Infrared single-photon detection with superconducting magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39292783.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.adp3725 and PMC identifier 11409955.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The moiré superconductor magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) shows exceptional properties, with an electron (hole) ensemble of only ~10<sup>11</sup> carriers per square centimeter, which is five orders of magnitude lower than traditional superconductors (SCs). This results in an ultralow electronic heat capacity and a large kinetic inductance of this truly two-dimensional SC, providing record-breaking parameters for quantum sensing applications, specifically thermal sensing and single-photon detection. To fully exploit these unique superconducting properties for quantum sensing, here, we demonstrate a proof-of-principle experiment to detect single near-infrared photons by voltage biasing an MATBG device near its superconducting phase transition. We observe complete destruction of the SC state upon absorption of a single infrared photon even in a 16-square micrometer device, showcasing exceptional sensitivity. Our work offers insights into the MATBG-photon interaction and demonstrates pathways to use moiré superconductors as an exciting platform for revolutionary quantum devices and sensors.