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arXiv:2303.08009

Optimal Amplitude Multiplexing of a Series of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors

F. Chiarello, Roberto Leoni, Martini, Francesco, F. Mattioli, Alessandro Gaggero

Published Mar 14, 2023• 0 citations
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Abstract

Integrated arrays of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) have shown capabilities such as Photon Number Resolution, single photon imaging and coincidences detection, and can be effectively used also in other different applications related to quantum optics. The growing complexity of such applications requires the use of multiplexing schemes for the simultaneous readout of different detectors. A simple multiplexing scheme can be realized by arranging a series of SNSPDs elements, shunted by appropriate resistances. The goal of this work is to investigate and optimize this scheme, developing a general method able to identify the optimal sets of shunting resistences for any different application. The methodology obtained is very general, and can be extended to other detection systems.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2303.08009

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Integrated arrays of Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) have shown capabilities such as Photon Number Resolution, single photon imaging and coincidences detection, and can be effectively used also in other different applications related to quantum optics. The growing complexity of such applications requires the use of multiplexing schemes for the simultaneous readout of different detectors. A simple multiplexing scheme can be realized by arranging a series of SNSPDs elements, shunted by appropriate resistances. The goal of this work is to investigate and optimize this scheme, developing a general method able to identify the optimal sets of shunting resistences for any different application. The methodology obtained is very general, and can be extended to other detection systems.
The realization of large-scale photonic circuit for quantum optics experiments at telecom wavelengths requires an increasing number of integrated detectors. Superconductive nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) can be easily integrated on chip and they can efficiently detect the light propagating inside waveguides. The thermal budget of cryostats poses a limit on the maximum number of elements that can be integrated on the same chip due to the thermal impact of the readout electronics. In this paper, we propose and implement a novel scheme able for an efficient reading of several SNSPDs with only one readout port, enabling the realization of photonic circuits with a large number of modes.
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Detecting spatial and temporal information of individual photons is a crucial technology in today's quantum information science. Among the existing single-photon detectors, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have been demonstrated with a sub-50 ps timing jitter, near unity detection efficiency1, wide response spectrum from visible to infrared and ~10 ns reset time. However, to gain spatial sensitivity, multiple SNSPDs have to be integrated into an array, whose spatial and temporal resolutions are limited by the multiplexing circuit. Here, we add spatial sensitivity to a single nanowire while preserving the temporal resolution from an SNSPD, thereby turning an SNSPD into a superconducting nanowire single-photon imager (SNSPI). To achieve an SNSPI, we modify a nanowire's electrical behavior from a lumped inductor to a transmission line, where the signal velocity is slowed down to 0.02c (where c is the speed of light). Consequently, we are able to simultaneously read out the landing locations and arrival times of the photons from the output electrical pulses using only two connections. We have demonstrated single-photon imaging by using a 19.7 mm long SNSPI, which is meandered into an imaging area of 286 {\mu}m*193 {\mu}m. The nanowire has a temporal resolution of 50 ps for detecting 1.5 {\mu}m photons. The 2D spatial resolution is 13.0 {\mu}m in the vertical direction and 5.6 {\mu}m in the horizontal direction. The maximum number of resolvable locations (i.e., the effective number of pixels) in such a long nanowire is calculated to be 590. Rather than operating an individual detector in a scanning mode or using SPD arrays, this SNSPI gives an alternative approach to taking large-scale single-photon images and measuring temporal and spatial correlation.
Photonic integrated circuits serve as essential platforms in quantum science, particularly in quantum communication and quantum computing, where linear high-performance single-photon detector arrays are required. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are known for their outstanding overall performance and compatibility with on-chip integration, making them the preferred choice for quantum photonic applications. However, conventional SNSPD arrays face challenges such as increased readout complexity or reduced detection speed. Herein, we present an amplitude-encoded SNSPD array featuring single-channel readout and high-speed detection capabilities, demonstrating high-quality discrimination of 12 pixels. This detector can readily achieve proof-of-concept quantum random number generation, underscoring its promise for advanced quantum information applications.