In this paper, we will present a single photon detector that is conceptually inspired taken from the rod cell in human eye. The detector, called the nano-injection single photon detector, couples a nano-scale injector region with a large absorption volume to provide a low-noise internal amplification mechanism, high quantum efficiency. This device has stable operation in low bias voltages so that it is fully compatible with available CMOS technologies. Device simulation results confirms a stable gain value about 1000 for the isolated nano-injection single photon detector at a bias voltages of 3V when the detector is illuminated by a 1.55um light source at room temperature and a dark current about 30nA at 3V bias. The rise time decreases with increasing optical power.

Keywords: Isolated nano-injection single photon detector, Dark current, Optical gain, Rise time

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