Isolated quantum dot in application to terahertz photon counting

Abstract

We present an experimental study of a large quantum dot (QD) capacitively coupled to an aluminum single electron transistor (SET) and irradiated with terahertz radiation from a blackbody source. The SET is used as a noninvasive electrometer sensitive to a single-charge fluctuation on the QD. Qualitatively different regimes of QD confinement have been identified from the SET response. We demonstrate that the state of a nearly isolated QD can potentially be used for counting individual terahertz photons. © 2006 The American Physical Society.