Overview on Low-flux Detectors

Laboratory based searches for weakly-interacting slim particles (WISPs) of the light-shining-through-a-wall type (LSW) use visible or near-infrared (NIR) laser light. Low-noise and highly efficient detectors are necessary to improve over previous experiments. These requirements overlap with the requirements for single-photon detectors (SPDs) for quantum information (QI) experiments. In this contribution, the sensitivity of several QI SPDs is compared to photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs) and imaging charge-coupled devices (CCDs). It is found that only transition edge sensors (TESs) are viable alternatives to CCDs if the signal can be focussed to a few micro meters.