INTEGRATED SILICON-BASED NONLINEAR PHOTODETECTOR

Disclosed is a system including an integrated silicon-based structure including a microcavity configured to receive optical energy from an input beam carrying an optical signal and absorb the optical energy by a nonlinear multi-photon absorption process. For example, the multi-photon absorption process can be two-photon absorption (TPA). The integrated silicon-based structure further includes electrodes responsive to the nonlinear multi-photon absorption process in the microcavity for producing an electronic signal indicative of the optical signal. A related method is also disclosed.