arXiv subjects

Kirsi Tappura

Publications and source records attributed to Kirsi Tappura.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Far- and near-field photon noise limits to the detectivity of nanometer-thick thermal detectors

Thermal-radiation detectors such as bolometers -- often found as thin, suspended films -- are intrinsically limited by their optical absorption properties and by their intrinsic thermal conductive and radiative losses. We analyze the impact of the photon energy exchange between the film and a substrate located close to each other, noticing that the associated near-field exchange has been overlooked and could reduce the detectivity. In addition, we study how the nanometric thickness of the suspended film and its material impact the detectivity of such sensors. It is found that the blackbody-related photon noise limit of the detectivity can be surpassed with thin films. These results emphasize pathways for improvements of thermal-radiation detectors.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Infrared Bolometers Based on 40-nm-Thick Nano-Thermoelectric Silicon Membranes

State-of the-art infrared photodetectors operating in the mid- and long-wavelength infrared (MWIR and LWIR) are largely dominated by cryogenically cooled quantum sensors when the target is the highest sensitivity and detection speeds. Nano-thermoelectrics provide a route towards competitive uncooled infrared bolometer technology that can obtain high speed and sensitivity, low-power operation, and cost-effectiveness. We demonstrate nano-thermoelectric LWIR bolometers with fast and high-sensitivity response to LWIR around 10 $μ$m. These devices are based on ultra-thin silicon membranes that utilize the dimensional scaling of silicon nanomembranes in thermoelectric elements and are combined with metallic nanomembranes with subwavelength absorber structures. The fast device performance stems from a low heat capacity design where the thermoelectric beams act both as mechanical supports and transducer elements. Furthermore, by scaling down the thickness of the thermoelectric beams the thermal conductivity is reduced owing to enhanced phonon boundary scattering, resulting in increased sensitivity. The nano-thermoelectric LWIR bolometers are based on 40-nm-thick n- and p-type silicon membranes with LWIR (voltage) responsivities up to 1636 V/W and 1350 V/W and time constants in the range of 300-600 $μ$s, resulting in specific detectivities up to $1.56\times10^8$ cmHz$^{1/2}$/W. We also investigate the use of a heavily doped N++ substrate to increase optical cavity back reflection, resulting in an increased Si substrate reflectance from 30% to 70%-75% for wavelengths between 8-10 $μ$m, resulting in an increase in device responsivity by approximately 20%.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Supporting quantum technologies with an ultra-low loss silicon photonics platform

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are expected to play a significant role in the ongoing second quantum revolution, thanks to their stability and scalability. Still, major upgrades are needed for available PIC platforms to meet the demanding requirements of quantum devices. In this paper, we present a review of our recent progress in upgrading an unconventional silicon photonics platform towards such goal, including ultra-low propagation losses, low fibre coupling losses, integration of superconducting elements, Faraday rotators, fast and efficient detectors, as well as phase modulators with low loss and/or low energy consumption. We show the relevance of our developments and of our vision in two main applications: quantum key distribution - to achieve significantly higher key rates and large-scale deployment - and cryogenic quantum computers - to replace electrical connections to the cryostat with optical fibres.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Suppression of $1/f$ noise in graphene due to non-scalar mobility fluctuations induced by impurity motion

Low frequency resistance variations due to mobility fluctuations is one of the key factors of $1/f$ noise in metallic conductors. According to theory, such noise in a two-dimensional (2D) device can be suppressed to zero at small magnetic fields, implying important technological benefits for low noise 2D devices. In this work, we provide direct evidence of anisotropic mobility fluctuations by demonstrating a strong field-induced suppression of noise in a high-mobility graphene Corbino disk, even though the device displays only a tiny amount of $1/f$ noise inherently. The suppression of the $1/f$ noise depends on charge density, showing less non-uniform mobility fluctuations away from the Dirac point with charge puddles. We model our results using a new approach based on impurity clustering dynamics and find our results consistent with the $1/f$ noise induced by scattering of carriers on mobile impurities forming clusters.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Electrical low-frequency $1/f^γ$ noise due to surface diffusion of scatterers on an ultra low noise graphene platform

Low-frequency $1/f^γ$ noise is ubiquitous, even in high-end electronic devices. For qubits such noise results in decrease of their coherence times. Recently, it was found that adsorbed O$_2$ molecules provide the dominant contribution to flux noise in superconducting quantum interference devices. To clarify the basic principles of such adsorbant noise, we have investigated the formation of low-frequency noise while the mobility of surface adsorbants is varied by temperature. In our experiments, we measured low-frequency current noise in suspended monolayer graphene samples under the influence of adsorbed Ne atoms. Owing to the extremely small intrinsic noise of graphene in suspended Corbino geometry, we could resolve a combination of $1/f^γ$ and Lorentzian noise spectra induced by the presence of Ne. We find that the $1/f^γ$ noise is caused by surface diffusion of Ne atoms and by temporary formation of few-Ne-atom clusters. Our results support the idea that clustering dynamics of defects is relevant for understanding of $1/f$ noise in general metallic systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Nano-thermoelectric infrared bolometers

Infrared (IR) radiation detectors are used in numerous applications from thermal imaging to spectroscopic gas sensing. Obtaining high speed and sensitivity, low-power operation and cost-effectiveness with a single technology remains to be a challenge in the field of IR sensors. By combining nano-thermoelectric transduction and nanomembrane photonic absorbers, we demonstrate uncooled IR bolometer technology that is material-compatible with large-scale CMOS fabrication and provides fast and high sensitivity response to long-wavelength IR (LWIR) around 10 $μ$m. The fast operation speed stems from the low heat capacity metal layer grid absorber connecting the sub-100 nm-thick n- and p-type Si nano-thermoelectric support beams, which convert the radiation induced temperature rise into voltage. The nano-thermoelectric transducer-support approach benefits from enhanced phonon surface scattering in the beams leading to reduction in thermal conductivity, which enhances the sensitivity. We demonstrate different size nano-thermoelectric bolometric photodetector pixels with LWIR responsitivities, specific detectivities and time constants in the ranges 179-2930 V/W, 0.15-3.1$\cdot10^{8}$ cmHz$^{1/2}$/W and 66-3600 $μ$s, respectively. We benchmark the technology against different LWIR detector solutions and show how nano-thermoelectric detector technology can reach the fundamental sensitivity limits posed by phonon and photon thermal fluctuation noise.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Large-area implementation and critical evaluation of the material and fabrication aspects of a thin-film thermoelectric generator based on aluminum-doped zinc oxide

A large-area thermoelectric generator (TEG) utilizing a folded thin-film concept is implemented and the performance evaluated for near room temperature applications having modest temperature gradients (< 50 K). The TEGs with the area of ~0.33 m^2 are shown capable of powering a wireless sensor node of multiple sensors suitable e.g. for monitoring environmental variables in buildings. The TEGs are based on a transparent, non-toxic and abundant thermoelectric material, i.e. aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO), deposited on flexible substrates. After folding, both the electrical current and heat flux are in the plane of the thermoelectric thin-film. Heat leakage in the folded TEG is shown to be minimal (close to that of air), enabling sufficient temperature gradients without efficient heat sinks, contrary to the conventional TEGs having the thermal flux and electrical current perpendicular to the plane of the thermoelectric films. The long-term stability studies reveal that there are no significant changes in the electrical or thermoelectric properties of AZO over several months, while the contact resistance between AZO and silver ink is an issue exhibiting a continuous increase over time. The performance of the TEGs and technological implications in relation to a state-of-the-art thermoelectric material are further assessed via a computational study.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

A numerical study on the design trade-offs of a thin-film thermoelectric generator for large-area applications

Thin-film thermoelectric generators with a novel folding scheme are proposed for large-area, low energy-density applications. Both the electrical current and heat transfer are in the plane of the thermoelectric thin-film, yet the heat transfer is across the plane of the module - similar to conventional bulk thermoelectric modules. With such designs, the heat leakage through the module itself can be minimized and the available temperature gradient maximized. Different from the previously reported corrugated thermoelectric generators, the proposed folding scheme enables high packing densities without compromising the thermal contact area to the heat source and sink. The significance of various thermal transport, or leakage, mechanisms in relation to power production is demonstrated for different packing densities and thicknesses of the module under heat sink-limited conditions. It is shown that the power factor is more important than ZT for predicting the power output of such thin-film devices. As very thin thermoelectric films are employed with modest temperature gradients, high aspect-ratio elements are needed to meet the - usually ignored - requirements of practical applications for the current. With the design trade-offs considered, the proposed devices may enable the exploitation of thermoelectric energy harvesting in new - large-area - applications at reasonable cost.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Exploitation of Transparent Conductive Oxides in the Implementation of a Window-Integrated Wireless Sensor Node

Exploitation of transparent conductive oxides (TCO) to implement an energy-autonomous sensor node for a wireless sensor network (WSN) is studied and a practical solution presented. In the practical implementations, flexible and rigid substrates that is polyimide and glass, are coated with TCO, namely aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO). AZO-coated flexible substrates are used to form thermoelectric generators (TEG) that produce electricity for the sensor electronics of the node from thermal gradients on a window. As the second solution to utilize AZO, its conductive properties are exploited to implement transparent antennas for the sensor node. Antennas for a UHF RFID transponder and the Bluetooth radio of the node are implemented. A prototype of a flexible transparent TEG, with the area of 67 cm2 when folded, was measured to produce power of 1.6 uW with a temperature difference of 43 K. A radiation efficiency of -9.1 dB was measured for the transparent RFID antenna prototype with the center frequency of 900 MHz. Radiation efficiencies between -3.8 dB and -0.4 dB, depending on the substrate, were obtained for the 2.45 GHz Bluetooth antenna.

physics.app-ph↗