Abstract Photonic quantum technologies promise a revolution of the world of information processing, from simulation and computing to communication and sensing, thanks to the many advantages of exploiting single photons as quantum information carriers. In this scenario, single‐photon detectors play a key role. On the one hand, superconducting nanowire single‐photon detectors (SNSPDs) are able to provide remarkable performance on a broad spectral range, but their applicability is often limited by the need of cryogenic operating temperatures. On the other hand, single‐photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) overcome the intrinsic limitations of SNSPDs by providing a valid alternative at room temperature or slightly below. In this paper, the authors review the fundamental principles of the SPAD operation and provide a thorough discussion of the recent progress made in this field, comparing the performance of these devices with the requirements of the quantum photonics applications. In the end, the authors conclude with their vision of the future by summarizing prospects and unbeaten paths that can open new perspectives in the field of photonic quantum information processing.
Abstract Photonic quantum technologies promise a revolution of the world of information processing, from simulation and computing to communication and sensing, thanks to the many advantages of exploiting single photons as quantum information carriers. In this scenario, single‐photon detectors play a key role. On the one hand, superconducting nanowire single‐photon detectors (SNSPDs) are able to provide remarkable performance on a broad spectral range, but their applicability is often limited by the need of cryogenic operating temperatures. On the other hand, single‐photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) overcome the intrinsic limitations of SNSPDs by providing a valid alternative at room temperature or slightly below. In this paper, the authors review the fundamental principles of the SPAD operation and provide a thorough discussion of the recent progress made in this field, comparing the performance of these devices with the requirements of the quantum photonics applications. In the end, the authors conclude with their vision of the future by summarizing prospects and unbeaten paths that can open new perspectives in the field of photonic quantum information processing.
Photon detectors connect optical and electrical systems by converting light to electrical signals. Single photon detectors detect single photons which measure ultra-weak light. Traditional semiconductor single-photon detectors suffer from high dark count rates, low infrared detection efficiency, and poor temporal resolution. Superconducting-nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) overcome these limitations using the hotspot effect. SNSPDs have created a solid foundation for optical technologies and become key in quantum information, LiDARs and Deep-Space Communications. This paper reviews working principles and performance metrics: system detection efficiency, dark count rate, recovery time, and timing jitter. The study summarizes applications in quantum information (quantum key distribution, optical quantum computing), single-photon LiDAR, and deep-space optical communication, replacing most single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). Recent experiments show that SNSPD-based systems can achieve meter-scale detection of sea fog, interplanetary laser communication over billions of kilometers, and boson sampling with 20 photons. Ongoing research is expected to improve performance in maximum count rate, system integration, and cryogenic operation, as well as to find applications in emerging fields such as environmental monitoring.
In the last decade,more and more quantum information applications such as quantum key distribution have been extensively demonstrated.These emerging applications place rigorous demands on detector performance such as detection efficiency,intrinsic photon number resolving ability etc.that go beyond the capabilities of traditional single-photon detectors composed of either photomultiplier tubes(PMTs) or avalanche photodiodes(APDs).Fortunately,several new types of cryogenic detectors such as superconducting transition edge sensor(TES),superconducting nanowire single photon detector(SNSPD),and quantum-dot based single photon detector(QD SPD)have been realized recently.Here we review all kinds of single photon detector technologies at the present time. Advantages,disadvantages,and potential improvement of these techniques for quantum information applications are also discussed.
Single-photon detection possibility is a fundamental requirement for quantum technologies, including communication, computing and sensing. To achieve scalability and practical deployment, increasing attention is being directed toward integration of detectors with photonic integrated circuits, which offer compactness and compatibility with mass production. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors have emerged as the leading solution, combining near-unity efficiency, high temporal performance and the ability to be embedded across a wide range of photonic material platforms. In this review we trace the development of integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors from early demonstrations to recent advances, outlining the progress in device architectures, material engineering and integration strategies. We also discuss performance benchmarks, emerging alternative designs, the future opportunities and challenges for this rapidly evolving field.
Abstract Integrated photonics is expected to play a key role in the scalability of quantum systems for applications such as quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum internet, and quantum metrology. One of the primary components of quantum integrated photonics is a single photon detector, which reads out the quantum information encoded in photons. Amongst available single-photon detection schemes, superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) remain the most promising technology for effective on-chip coupling, because they can be seamlessly integrated with a wide range of waveguide materials and substrates and have shown unparalleled performance from visible to the mid-infrared regime. Here, we review different aspects of SNSPDs and schemes for their on-chip integration for different integrated photonics applications. Although mostly concentrated on quantum applications, we also cover some of the important wider photonics applications including imaging, AI and machine learning, and single-photon spectroscopy, and conclude the review with a future outlook discussing emerging research areas enabled by photonic integrated circuits based on SNSPDs.
In this review, we present recent advances relating to superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs or SNSPDs) and their broad range of applications. During a period exceeding ten years, the system performance of SSPDs has been drastically improved, and lately excellent detection efficiencies have been realized in practical systems for a wide range of target photon wavelengths. Owing to their advantages such as high system detection efficiency, low dark count rate, and excellent timing jitter, SSPDs have found application in various research fields such as quantum information, quantum optics, optical communication, and also in the life sciences. We summarize the photon detection principle and the current performance status of practical SSPD systems. In addition, we introduce application examples in which SSPDs have been applied.
Abstract The superconducting nanowire single‐photon detector (SNSPD) is a quantum‐limit superconducting optical detector based on the Cooper‐pair breaking effect by a single photon, which exhibits a higher detection efficiency, lower dark count rate, higher counting rate, and lower timing jitter when compared with those exhibited by its counterparts. SNSPDs have been extensively applied in quantum information processing, including quantum key distribution and optical quantum computation. In this review, we present the requirements of single‐photon detectors from quantum information, as well as the principle, key metrics, latest performance issues, and other issues associated with SNSPD. The representative applications of SNSPDs with respect to quantum information will also be covered.