{
  "abstract": "Silicon is the dominant platform for integrated photonics, yet its wide electronic bandgap of 1.1 eV fundamentally prevents efficient detection of mid-infrared (MIR) photons through direct valence band to conduction band excitation. Existing approaches therefore seek to enhance sub-bandgap absorption or introduce external infrared absorbers. Here we demonstrate a profoundly different detection strategy based on optically gated transduction, in which MIR photons modulate a pre-established excitation state rather than directly generating photocarriers. Our device integrates Nd3+-doped lanthanide nanoparticles with an inverse-designed Al/p-Si metasurface supporting dual resonances that simultaneously enhances optical gating in the near infrared and resonantly couples incident MIR radiation. The MIR illumination redistributes the Nd3+ emission pathways, producing an optical-state change that is converted into an electrical signal through a silicon Schottky junction. The device achieves room-temperature zero-bias detection at 6.8 um with a modulation responsivity of 103 uA/W and resolves combined gate and MIR inputs into three electrically distinguishable current states. Rather than extending silicon absorption into the infrared, this work establishes gated optical transduction as a route for reading MIR optical information on a silicon platform, opening opportunities for integrated infrared sensing, signal processing and programmable photonic systems.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.36475",
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Shutao Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiaqing Shen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chongwu Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiahui Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wei Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qing Yang Steve Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yan Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xie Yuen Gok"
    },
    {
      "name": "Febiana Tjiptoharsono"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiaogang Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qi Jie Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Joel K. W. Yang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jinfeng Zhu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zhaogang Dong"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1bpp9hfm0vma1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.36475",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1bpp9hfm0vma1",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.36475",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.optics"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Photonic and Optical Devices"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224086381",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.36475",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-27",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1bpp9hfm0vma1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:50Z",
      "native_id": "2610.36475",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.36475"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.optics",
      "subfield": "optics-photonics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Optically gated transduction enables silicon electrical readout of mid-infrared light",
  "title_text": "Optically gated transduction enables silicon electrical readout of mid-infrared light",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:50Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1bpp9hfm0vma1",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}