Two-dimensional cuprate nanodetector with single photon sensitivity at T = 20 K
Rafael Luque Merino, Seifert, Paul, José Ramón Durán Retamal, Roop K. Mech, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Kazuo Kadowaki, Robert H. Hadfield, Dmitri K. Efetov
Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of superconducting thin films with low TC limits their operation temperature below 4K. In this work, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ (BSCCO) that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow (ms) reset time and a low detection efficiency (10^(-4)). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-TC nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.
Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of superconducting thin films with low TC limits their operation temperature below 4K. In this work, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ (BSCCO) that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow (ms) reset time and a low detection efficiency (10^(-4)). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-TC nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.
Abstract Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of low T C superconducting thin films limits their operation temperature to approximately 4 K and below. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20 K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow ∼ m s reset time and a low detection efficiency ( ∼ 10 − 4 ). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-T C nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.
Abstract Photodetectors based on nano-structured superconducting thin films are currently some of the most sensitive quantum sensors and are key enabling technologies in such broad areas as quantum information, quantum computation and radio-astronomy. However, their broader use is held back by the low operation temperatures which require expensive cryostats. Here, we demonstrate a high- T c superconducting photodetector, which shows orders of magnitude improved performance characteristics of any superconducting detector operated above 77 K, with a responsivity of 9.61 × 10 4 V W −1 , theoretically achievable noise equivalent power of 15.9 fW Hz 1/2 and nanosecond relaxation times. At 15 K the detector reaches an ultra-high performance of 2.33 × 10 7 V W −1 and 55.2 aW Hz 1/2 . It is based on van der Waals heterostructures of the high temperature superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+ δ , which are shaped into nano-wires with ultra-small form factor using focused helium ion beam irradiation. To highlight the versatility of the detector we demonstrate its fabrication and operation on a telecom grade SiN waveguide chip. Our detector significantly relaxes the demands of practical applications of superconducting detectors and displays its possible potential for photonics based quantum applications.
We report on superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on NbN nanowires and their application to single-photon measurements at telecom wavelengths. The detectors are realized by patterning ultra thin (3 - 5 nm-thick) NbN films into meanders of 100 nm-wide wires. The films are deposited by DC magnetron sputtering at relatively low temperatures (≈500 °C) on MgO and GaAs substrates (as compared to the approach of high-temperature deposition on sapphire). In 5 nm-thick films, TCsas high as 10 K and 11 K have been obtained on GaAs and MgO, respectively (Fig. 1). SSPDs have been fabricated by a two-mask process using electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching on 3.5nm thick NbN films deposited under optimal conditions on MgO. The detectors are 5 × 5 μm2in size, and composed of a 100 μm long, 100 nm wide nanowire folded in a meander pattern with filling factor of 40%. Typical room temperature resistivity ρ is of 190 μΩ·cm, and I-V curves at 4.2 K show a critical current density JCof about 6 MA·cm-2, which are state of the art values. Quantum efficiency (QE) was measured illuminating the detectors mounted in a liquid He bath through an optical fiber. Quantum efficiencies >10% are measured at 4.2 K, comparable to best results on sapphire substrates. In particular, SSPDs show a large increase in sensitivity, temporal resolution and maximum counting frequencies as compared to InGaAs avalanche photodiodes.
Superconducting nanowires have been used to detect single photons for more than 20 years. The basic principle is that photons can perturb superconducting Cooper pairs and thereby create a resistive hotspot, which produces a current-crowding effect. This current-crowding effect reduces the superconducting energy gap near the hotspot, which results in the nanowire changing from a superconducting to a normal state near the hotspot. The resulting high impedance causes the current to be squeezed into a high frequency coaxial wire connected in parallel with it, which finally produces a measurable voltage pulse. Thanks to the maturity of current micro- and nano- fabrication techniques, high quality superconducting thin films and nano-wires have been realized in a variety of materials such as NbN, WSi, MoSi and others. These techniques include magnetron sputtering, physical vapor deposition, electron beam lithography, optical lithography, reactive ion etching, wafer cutting, etc. Measurements of superconducting single-photon detectors require cryogenic refrigeration systems, ranging from the initial liquid helium cold tank, to modern dry dilution refrigerators. On one hand, a superconducting device needs to be cooled down below its critical temperature to work. On the other hand, photon-detection events generate hot spots, which release heat to the device substrate, which the refrigerator needs to efficiently take away. Research on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) has made significant advancements over the past two decades, including high detection efficiency, low dark counts, and broad wavelength range capabilities. Beyond improvements in traditional NbN, WSi and MoSi superconducting nanowires, there have been numerous efforts to develop high-temperature superconducting nanowires, such as MgB2 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (BSCCO), due to the operational limitations imposed by low-temperature superconducting materials. Typically, single-photon detectors require operation temperatures below the critical temperature. High-temperature superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors have currently reported to exhibit the highest operating temperature around 20 K in BSCCO, which is much lower than its critical temperature of 80 K, showing that large-gap superconductors have a comparably low sensitivity to low-energy photons. In recent years since 2018, several groups have reported that micrometer-wide superconducting wires can also be used for single-photon detection, unlike the conventional nanometer-wide superconducting wires. In general, as long as the bias current is uniformly distributed in superconducting wires and approaches the critical Cooper pair-breaking current, the hot spots generated by photon absorption can induce vortices and anti-vortices, and their motion under the action of the Lorentz force generates resistance and voltage, which ultimately produces a normal state region. An increase of the wire width to the micron scale offers more freedom to design new detectors based on current nano- and microfabrication techniques. In this doctoral dissertation, I will first introduce the basic Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity and the measurement theory of superconducting circuits related to single-photon detection. I will then provide a detailed description of the equipment construction and sample fabrication techniques used in the experiment. Finally, I will present my two main studies: in one project I examined the photon-detection performance of superconducting micro-wires with a multi-pinhole structure, the correlation between dark counts and magnetic vortices, as well as the properties of critical current in magnetic fields. In a subsequent study I conducted numerical simulations using the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation, to analyze the dynamics of vortices in superconducting micro-strips with regular large-area perforations by pinholes as a function of magnetic field and bias current. The thus obtained predictions were then successfully confirmed in a detailed experimental study on a series of microwires.
Superconducting single photons detectors (SSPDs) have emerged in recent years as a promising alternative for
fast and sensitive infrared detectors working in the photon counting mode. In particular, those detectors combine
very low dark count rates (below 1 Hz), high speed (above 1 GHz), photon number resolution and reasonable
quantum efficiency (10% at telecom wavelengths). They already found applications in quantum cryptography
systems and integrated circuit failure analysis, but could also be used as ultimate sensors in matrix configurations.
We show here the optimization of SSPD fabrication and their optical metrology at CEA. SSPD are fabricated
by patterning a 80 nm wide nanowire in a very thin (4 nm) NbN film on sapphire, forming a pixel of several
microns size. A cryogenic all-fibered optoelectronic system has been developed and allows precise metrology of
the optical performances of SSPD. When biasing near the critical current of the nanowire, we demonstrate a
detection quantum efficiency of 8% at 1.55 µm, which is also found to be strongly polarization dependent. This
quantum efficiency being limited by optical absorption, we propose a prism coupling based absorption enhancing
structure that allows reaching 100% quantum efficiency.
Photodetectors based on nano-structured superconducting thin films are currently some of the most sensitive quantum sensors and are key enabling technologies in such broad areas as quantum information, quantum computation and radio-astronomy. However, their broader use is held back by the low operation temperatures which require expensive cryostats. Here, we demonstrate a nitrogen cooled superconducting transition edge sensor, which shows orders of magnitude improved performance characteristics of any superconducting detector operated above 77K, with a responsivity of 9.61x10^4 V/W, noise equivalent power of 15.9 fW/Hz-1/2 and operation speeds up to GHz frequencies. It is based on van der Waals heterostructures of the high temperature superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, which are shaped into nano-wires with ultra-small form factor. To highlight the versatility of the detector we demonstrate its fabrication and operation on a telecom grade SiN waveguide chip. Our detector significantly relaxes the demands of practical applications of superconducting detectors and displays its huge potential for photonics based quantum applications.