{
  "abstract": "Sensor noise is a fundamental barrier to low-flux astronomical imaging and spectroscopy, where the ideal sensor would unambiguously distinguish individual photon arrivals. While optical semiconductor arrays can reach single-photon sensitivity, comparable performance in the infrared has largely required superconducting detectors. These must be operated at temperatures near absolute zero and require substantially more power, introducing major system-level challenges. HgCdTe avalanche photodiodes offer a semiconductor alternative by amplifying charge before readout, but dark current and tunneling effects have limited their use in the faintest regimes. Here we demonstrate single-photon-resolving operation in a megapixel-format HgCdTe linear-mode avalanche photodiode array operated at conventional cryogenic temperature. Avalanche gain raises photon-induced steps in non-destructive up-the-ramp data above the readout-noise floor while leaving the dark signal largely unamplified, with a false positive rate of approximately 2 false counts per thousand reads per pixel. These results establish LmAPDs as a promising route toward infrared photon-counting focal planes for future low-background astronomical observatories.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.00799",
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Guillaume Huber"
    },
    {
      "name": "Pavaman Bilgi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Charles-Antoine Claveau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shane Jacobson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ian Baker"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniel Owton"
    },
    {
      "name": "Vincent Isgar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chris Maxey"
    },
    {
      "name": "Markus Loose"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael Bottom"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qrpbx4ms67xe.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.00799",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9qrpbx4ms67xe",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.00799",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.IM"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7216574050",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.00799",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qrpbx4ms67xe.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:03Z",
      "native_id": "2610.00799",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.00799"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.IM",
      "subfield": "instrumentation-methods"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Near-Noiseless Single-Photon Detection in the Infrared with a Megapixel Semiconductor Array for Low-Background Astronomy",
  "title_text": "Near-Noiseless Single-Photon Detection in the Infrared with a Megapixel Semiconductor Array for Low-Background Astronomy",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9qrpbx4ms67xe",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}