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Low-Noise High Speed Detection of Photons in Cold Atom Interferometry based Quantum Sensors

Anjitha Viswanath, S S Safeer, V N Radhika, R. V. Binoj, Rajesh George P, Joji J. Chaman

Published Nov 7, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A high-speed, low-noise transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit was developed for accurate monitoring and stabilization of cooling, Raman and repumping laser beams in cold atom interferometry sensors. Designed to preserve the shape and timing of short-duration optical pulses, the circuit ensures that pulse characteristics are faithfully reproduced and that absolute intensity levels are measured accurately—both of which are critical for maintaining interferometer phase stability and fringe contrast. The design achieves a transimpedance gain of 1.5×103V/A and a -3dB bandwidth of approximately 12MHz, with an output noise rms better than 258µV and a noise-equivalent power (NEP) better than 7.57×10⁻¹¹W/√Hz. Using the OPA847 operational amplifier and an FDS100 photodiode, comprehensive LTspice simulations—including transient response, AC frequency response and noise analysis—validate that the circuit reliably captures short optical pulses with low noise, making it suitable for implementation in cold atom interferometry based quantum sensor applications.

DOI
10.1109/icrm66809.2025.11349117

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