Design of the nanoinjection detectors using finite element modeling

The nanoinjection photon detectors have been recently developed to address the main trade-off in using nanoscale features for light detection. Even though nanoscale sensors offer high sensitivity, their interaction with visible or infrared light is severely limited by their miniscule sizes. Nanoinjection detectors solve this problem by implementing a novel structure with highly sensitive nanometer sized pillars, “nanoinjectors,” on large, thick absorption layers. The large, thick absorption layers ensure that the incoming light is captured with high efficiency, and that the nanoinjectors are responsible for sensing and amplifying these signals. With this nontraditional, nonplaner geometry, high sensitivity and high efficiency can be simultaneously attained, which can satisfy a growing need for identifying and counting photons in many modern applications.