Three-layer detection pixel of single-photon thermoelectric detector based on rare-earth hexaborides

The results of computer simulation of heat propagation processes in the three-layer detection pixel of single-photon thermoelectric detector after the absorption of single photons with 0.5–4.13 eV energies are presented. Various geometries of detection pixel consisting of rare-earth hexaborides are considered. Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆) is chosen as the absorber material, and for the materials of thermoelectric sensor are chosen cerium (CeB₆) and lanthanum–cerium (La₀.99Ce₀.01)B₆ hexaborides. The problem to achieve high system efficiency of thermoelectric detector for photons detection in the wavelength range from UV to near IR rang is solved. Computer modeling is carried out on the basis of the equation of heat propagation from the limited volume by the use of three-dimensional matrix method for differential equations. It is shown that a single-photon thermoelectric detector with a three-layer detection pixel made only of hexaborides will have gigahertz count rate, high energy resolution, and detection efficiency exceeding 90 percent. Taking into account the advantages of three-layer detection pixel compared to the single-layer it can be argued that three-layer detection pixel of the thermoelectric detector has great prospects to solve a number of single-photon detection tasks