Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1502.07649 · New Journal of Physics

Tomography of photon-number resolving continuous-output detectors

Peter C Humphreys, Benjamin J Metcalf, Thomas Gerrits, T. Hiemstra, Adriana E. Lita, Joshua Nunn, Sae Woo Nam, Animesh Datta, W. Steven Kolthammer, Ian A. Walmsley

Published Oct 21, 2015• 64 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We report a comprehensive approach to analysing continuous-output photon detectors. We employ principal component analysis to maximize the information extracted from output signals, followed by a novel noise-tolerant parameterized approach to the tomography of photon-number resolving detectors. We further propose a measure for rigorously quantifying a detector's photon-number-resolving capability. Our approach applies to all detectors with continuous-output signals. We illustrate our methods by applying them to experimental data obtained from a transition-edge sensor detector.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/17/10/103044

Related papers

Electrical trace analysis of superconducting nanowire photon-number-resolving detectors

Timon Schapeler, Niklas Lamberty, Thomas Hummel +5 more

We apply principal component analysis (PCA) to a set of electrical output signals from a commercially available superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) to investigate their photon-number-resolving capability. We find that the rising edge as well as the amplitude of the electrical signal have the most dependence on photon number. Accurately measuring the rising edge while simultaneously measuring the voltage of the pulse amplitude maximizes the photon-number resolution of SNSPDs. Using an optimal basis of principal components, we show unambiguous discrimination between one- and two-photon events, as well as partial resolution up to five photons. This expands the use case of SNSPDs to photon-counting experiments, without the need of detector multiplexing architectures. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

arXiv:2310.12471•Physical Review Applied•Jul 10, 2024•25 citations

Characterization of quantum states and detectors

Rajveer Nehra, Miller Eaton, Kevin Valson Jacob +6 more

Characterization of quantum states and detectors is a key task in rapidly emerging optical quantum science and technology. First, we introduce and experimentally demonstrate a noise-robust quantum state characterization protocol using photon-number-resolving (PNR) measurements. Unlike conventional continuous variable state tomography methods, our method utilizes computationally efficient semi-definite programming (SDP) and can be used to accurately reconstruct the state even after loss a known loss. The protocol is demonstrated for a weak coherent state as well as a single-photon Fock state. Next, we propose a method for characterizing a photodetector by directly reconstructing the Wigner functions of the detector’s Positive-Operator-Value-Measure (POVM) elements via weak-field homodyne technique. We also report our experimental progress on characterizing a superconducting transition-edge sensor for PNR measurements.

•Aug 25, 2020•0 citations

Certification of the genuine resolution of photon number resolving detectors

Jef Pauwels, Towsif Taher, Roope Uola +3 more

Photon-number-resolving (PNR) detectors are essential components of photonic quantum technologies, yet thus far, no practical metric exists to certify how many photons they can genuinely resolve in a single measurement. Here we introduce an operational framework for quantifying the capability of a PNR detector to distinguish between different numbers of photons, i.e. its genuine resolution. In turn, we develop a practical and scalable protocol for certifying the genuine resolution of a detector, which is based on coherent state probes. We apply the method to a 28-pixel photon-number-resolving superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (PNR-SNSPD) and certify genuine four-outcome resolution. Our work highlights the critical requirements in terms of detector efficiency towards achieving high genuine resolution. This approach provides an operational benchmark for PNR detectors and fills a crucial gap in the characterization of photonic quantum devices.

quant-pharXiv:2606.14365•Jun 15, 2026•0 citations

High-Rate Photon-Number Resolved Detection with Transition-Edge Sensors Enabled by Machine Learning

Zhenghao Li, Matthew J. H. Kendall, Ruidi Zhu +4 more

We report a machine-learning-based algorithm that allows transition-edge sensors to distinguish photon number traces at a repetition rate that overcomes their slow recovery time. Detector tomography is performed to benchmark the algorithm’s performance.

Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition•Jan 1, 2024•0 citations

Quantum detector tomography of a superconducting nanostrip photon-number-resolving detector

Mamoru Endo, Tatsuki Sonoyama, Mikihisa Matsuyama +6 more

Superconducting nanostrip photon detectors have been used as single-photon detectors, which can discriminate only photons' presence or absence. It has recently been found that they can discriminate the number of photons by analyzing the output signal waveform, and they are expected to be used in various fields, especially in optical-quantum-information processing. Here, we improve the photon-number-resolving performance for light with a high-average photon number by pattern matching of the output signal waveform. Furthermore, we estimate the positive-operator-valued measure of the detector by a quantum detector tomography. The result shows that the device has photon-number-resolving performance up to five photons without any multiplexing or arraying, indicating that it is useful as a photon-number-resolving detector.

arXiv:2102.09712•Optics Express•Mar 20, 2021•64 citations

Quantum tomography of a photon-number-resolving detector based on continuous time multiplexing: memory effect

G. V. Avosopiants, Konstantin G. Katamadze, N. A. Borshchevskaya +2 more

Abstract We address the characterization of a photon-number-resolving detector based on continuous time multiplexing. We develop and verify a mathematical model of this detector and explore various approaches to its quantum tomography. Additionally, we encounter a memory effect and discuss the feasibility of describing this type of detector using a transfer matrix or positive operator-valued measure (POVM) decomposition.

Laser Physics Letters•Aug 21, 2024•1 citation
We report a comprehensive approach to analysing continuous-output photon detectors. We employ principal component analysis to maximize the information extracted from output signals, followed by a novel noise-tolerant parameterized approach to the tomography of photon-number resolving detectors. We further propose a measure for rigorously quantifying a detector's photon-number-resolving capability. Our approach applies to all detectors with continuous-output signals. We illustrate our methods by applying them to experimental data obtained from a transition-edge sensor detector.
We apply principal component analysis (PCA) to a set of electrical output signals from a commercially available superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) to investigate their photon-number-resolving capability. We find that the rising edge as well as the amplitude of the electrical signal have the most dependence on photon number. Accurately measuring the rising edge while simultaneously measuring the voltage of the pulse amplitude maximizes the photon-number resolution of SNSPDs. Using an optimal basis of principal components, we show unambiguous discrimination between one- and two-photon events, as well as partial resolution up to five photons. This expands the use case of SNSPDs to photon-counting experiments, without the need of detector multiplexing architectures. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Characterization of quantum states and detectors is a key task in rapidly emerging optical quantum science and technology. First, we introduce and experimentally demonstrate a noise-robust quantum state characterization protocol using photon-number-resolving (PNR) measurements. Unlike conventional continuous variable state tomography methods, our method utilizes computationally efficient semi-definite programming (SDP) and can be used to accurately reconstruct the state even after loss a known loss. The protocol is demonstrated for a weak coherent state as well as a single-photon Fock state. Next, we propose a method for characterizing a photodetector by directly reconstructing the Wigner functions of the detector’s Positive-Operator-Value-Measure (POVM) elements via weak-field homodyne technique. We also report our experimental progress on characterizing a superconducting transition-edge sensor for PNR measurements.
Photon-number-resolving (PNR) detectors are essential components of photonic quantum technologies, yet thus far, no practical metric exists to certify how many photons they can genuinely resolve in a single measurement. Here we introduce an operational framework for quantifying the capability of a PNR detector to distinguish between different numbers of photons, i.e. its genuine resolution. In turn, we develop a practical and scalable protocol for certifying the genuine resolution of a detector, which is based on coherent state probes. We apply the method to a 28-pixel photon-number-resolving superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (PNR-SNSPD) and certify genuine four-outcome resolution. Our work highlights the critical requirements in terms of detector efficiency towards achieving high genuine resolution. This approach provides an operational benchmark for PNR detectors and fills a crucial gap in the characterization of photonic quantum devices.
Superconducting nanostrip photon detectors have been used as single-photon detectors, which can discriminate only photons' presence or absence. It has recently been found that they can discriminate the number of photons by analyzing the output signal waveform, and they are expected to be used in various fields, especially in optical-quantum-information processing. Here, we improve the photon-number-resolving performance for light with a high-average photon number by pattern matching of the output signal waveform. Furthermore, we estimate the positive-operator-valued measure of the detector by a quantum detector tomography. The result shows that the device has photon-number-resolving performance up to five photons without any multiplexing or arraying, indicating that it is useful as a photon-number-resolving detector.