Grant: Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Simon Fraser University
$322,314.00
Next Generation Single-Photon Detectors
FY 2025-26 · 2026-03-23
Summary
The Project goal is to enhance the single-photon detection efficiency of semiconductor single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) in the shortwave infrared region by integrating metasurface designs with the high quality InGaAs/InP APD heterostructures grown at NRC. The Project’s metasurface design, based on an array of semiconductor nanostructures, allows for enhancing the absorption efficiency and controlling the spatial absorption profile within a thinner absorption region than conventional SPADs. These features of metasurface SPADs will enable enhanced single-photon detection efficiency of ~80%, while also improving the timing resolution by an order of magnitude to tens of picoseconds. Surface passivation techniques will be developed for the metasurface SPAD device architecture to achieve the proposed device metrics. The portable, metasurface-based SPADs with enhanced efficiency and timing resolution impacts a broad range of applications including quantum lidar and imaging, quantum sensing, quantum networks, and defense.
Department
Program
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Recipient
Location
Burnaby|Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Business Number
118520725
Type
Grant
Source
Proactive Disclosure - Grants and Contributions
As published
Agreement End Date
2028-03-31
Agreement Number
1040902
Agreement Start Date
2026-03-23
Agreement Title
Next Generation Single-Photon Detectors
Agreement Title (French)
Détecteurs de photons uniques de nouvelle génération
Agreement Type
Grant
Agreement Value
$322,314.00
Amendment Number
0
Description
The Project goal is to enhance the single-photon detection efficiency of semiconductor single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) in the shortwave infrared region by integrating metasurface designs with the high quality InGaAs/InP APD heterostructures grown at NRC. The Project’s metasurface design, based on an array of semiconductor nanostructures, allows for enhancing the absorption efficiency and controlling the spatial absorption profile within a thinner absorption region than conventional SPADs. These features of metasurface SPADs will enable enhanced single-photon detection efficiency of ~80%, while also improving the timing resolution by an order of magnitude to tens of picoseconds. Surface passivation techniques will be developed for the metasurface SPAD device architecture to achieve the proposed device metrics. The portable, metasurface-based SPADs with enhanced efficiency and timing resolution impacts a broad range of applications including quantum lidar and imaging, quantum sensing, quantum networks, and defense.
Description (French)
L’amélioration de l’efficacité de détection repose sur l’intégration de métasurfaces dans des dispositifs SPAD.
Cette approche permet d’atteindre une meilleure résolution temporelle et ouvre des perspectives pour des applications en imagerie et en technologies quantiques.
Expected Results
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Expected Results (French)
À court terme, les résultats prévus seront des collaborations renforcées entre l'industrie, le milieu universitaire et le gouvernement pour soutenir l'excellence en recherche. À moyen terme, les résultats attendus seront le développement de nouvelles technologies potentiellement perturbatrices avec des collaborateurs. À long terme, trouver des solutions collaboratives aux défis des politiques publiques et créer des systèmes d'innovation plus solides.
Federal Riding
Burnaby North--Seymour
Federal Riding (French)
Burnaby-Nord--Seymour
Federal Riding Number
59003
NAICS Code
541710 - R&D in the physical, engineering and life sciences
Organization Code
nrc-cnrc
Organization
National Research Council Canada | Conseil national de recherches Canada
Program Name
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Program Name (French)
Programme de collaboration en science, en technologie et en innovation - Initiatives de collaboration en R-D
Program Purpose
Collaborate on multiparty research and development programs to catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in priority areas.
Program Purpose (French)
Collaborer à des programmes multipartites de recherche-développement dans le but de profiter de la synergie entre la recherche transformatrice à haut risque et à haut rendement et le potentiel de découvertes scientifiques et de percées technologiques révolutionnaires dans des secteurs d’intervention prioritaires.
Recipient Business Number
118520725
Recipient City
Burnaby|Burnaby
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Legal Name
Simon Fraser University
Recipient Postal Code
V5A 1S6
Recipient Province or Territory
BC
Recipient Type
S
Reference Number
172-2025-2026-Q4-1040902
