Applications of Single-Photon Detector

Dear Colleagues,

Single-photon detectors were invented approximately 90 years ago with the arrival of the photomultiplier tube. A single-photon detector with ultimate sensitivity is capable of registering photons, emerging with an indispensable role for extensive applications, including optical quantum information and communication, laser ranging, astrophysics, and high-energy physics. There are numerous material systems used for single-photon detection, generally: photomultipliers, semiconductors, and superconductors. The extension of single-photon detection to mid-infrared further facilitates the applications in astronomy, LIDAR, dark matter searches, and the fundamental study of fast molecular dynamics and chemistry. A set of performance tradeoffs or detector types among all material systems should be selected based on the needs of particular applications.

This Special Issue invites manuscripts that introduce the recent advances in “Single-Photon Detectors and Their Applications”, covering the wavelength from visible to mid-infrared. All theoretical, numerical, and experimental papers are accepted. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Solid-state-based single-photon detector: physics, measurement, and applications;
• Superconductor-based single-photon detector: physics, measurement, and applications;
• Spatial multiplexing single-photon detector;
• Hybrid detection system;
• Mid-infrared single-photon detector;
• Single-photon detection in existing and new categories of applications;
• Photon number resolving.

Dr. Yi-Shan Lee
Dr. Jau-Yang Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.