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

Optical Engineering

Superconducting quantum detectors

Nathan Bluzer, Martin G. Forrester

Published Mar 1, 1994• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) spawned many potential applications, including optical detectors. Realizing viable superconducting detectors requires achieving performance superior to competing and more mature semiconductor detector technologies, and quantum detector technologies in particular. We review why quantum detectors are inherently more sensitive than thermal or bolometric detectors. This sensitivity advantage suggests that for operation at cryogenic temperatures, we should be developing only quantum superconducting detectors. Accordingly, we introduce and describe the structure and the operation of a superconducting quantum detector with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) readout circuit. The superconducting quantum detector, consisting of a superconducting loop, produces a photosignal in response to photoinduced changes in the superconducting condensate's kinetic inductance. The superconducting quantum detector is designed to operate only in the superconducting state and not in the resistive or transition states.

DOI
10.1117/12.159349

Related papers

Superconducting quantum detectors

Nathan Bluzer, Martin G. Forrester

The discovery of high temperature superconductors (HTS) spawned many potential applications, including optical detectors. Realizing viable superconducting detectors requires achieving performance superior to competing and more mature semiconductor detector technologies, and quantum detector technologies in particular. We review why quantum detectors are inherently more sensitive than thermal or bolometric detectors. This sensitivity advantage suggests that for operation at cryogenic temperatures we should be developing only quantum superconducting detectors. Accordingly, we introduce and describe the structure and the operation of a superconducting quantum detector with a SQUID read-out circuit. The superconducting quantum detector, consisting of a superconducting loop, produces a photosignal in response to photoinduced changes in the condensate's kinetic inductance. The superconducting quantum detector is designed to operate only in the superconducting state and not in the resistive or transition states.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 1, 1993•0 citations

Detectors for Tomorrow's Instruments

Harvey Moseley

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor/normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provides a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillimeter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large scale superconducting detection systems are now being deployed. I will discuss the prospects for a new generation of instruments designed to take full advantage of the revolution in detector technology.

•Feb 22, 2009•0 citations

Superconducting Detectors Come of Age, or Ready to Leave the Lab

Samuel Harvey Moseley

Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provide a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillil.neter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large-scale superconducting detection systems is now being deployed. Improved understanding of the operation of these detectors, combined with rapidly improving fabrication techniques, is quickly expanding the capability of these detectors. I will review the development and application of superconductor-based detectors, the ultimate limits to their performance, and consider prospects for their future applications. Continued advances promise to enable important new measurements in physics, and with appropriate advances in cryogenic infrastn~cturem, ay result in the use of these detectors in everyday monitoring applications.

•Nov 17, 2008•0 citations

Applications of superconducting electronics to quantum optics and quantum metrology

Ling Yun Hao

SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) have been in use for more than half a century and constitute one of the first macroscopic quantum devices. SQUIDs operating at millikelvin temperatures can act as qubits for quantum computers and the recent reports of more than 50 qubit circuits indicate how far the technology has developed. In this talk, the author will describe two other applications of SQUIDs as quantum detectors, focusing on single spin and single photon energy resolving detection. Most superconducting devices rely on tri-layer Josephson tunnel junctions which are not easily scalable to the nanoscale. We have developed a Josephson junction fabrication method, based on electron beam lithography or focused ion beam milling of a single thin film of superconductor (Nb generally) which can provide sizes down to 50 nm. These devices are particularly relevant for two main applications in quantum technology and metrology. First, by shrinking the size of the SQUID loop and the junctions to around 200 nm, the sensitivity of the SQUID for magnetization measurements is improved to the level where a single electron spin flip may be detected. This is possible at the relatively elevated temperature of 4K.  We are working with Surrey University to implant single magnetic ions within the SQUID loop to provide a platform to test this combination as the basis for a new form of qubit operating at higher temperatures than the conventional Transmon superconducting devices. A second SQUID based detector which we are developing is an inductive transition edge sensor device (ISTED) for energy resolving measurements of single photons. This is based on the development of conventional transition edge sensors where we detect the change of the penetration depth of a small thin film of superconductor when it absorbs a photon. In this way, a major source of noise in conventional TES may be avoided since the absorber remains in the superconducting state at all times. In this way we have demonstrated single photon detection at 633 nm with 0.1eV resolution at operating temperature of 7.5K.

Advances in Automobile Engineering•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Advances in Superconducting Single-photon Detectors

Kyle DeBry

Superconducting single-photon detectors can detect photons from the UV to the infrared with quantum efficiencies above 90% and greater than MHz count rates. They consist of narrow, thin wires of superconductor biased near their critical current. When these wires absorb a photon, part of the wire stops superconducting and becomes resistive. This transition and sudden jump in resistance is what enables the detection of the photon. Over the past two decades, these devices have matured greatly as a technology and have found many applications ranging from quantum optics to astronomy. However, there are still multiple theories of the dominant mechanism behind these devices. Recently proposed theories suggest a more complicated but potentially more powerful detection mechanism, and experiments are only recently starting to demonstrate this effect and its potential applications. In this research, the capability to fabricate these intricate devices was developed. This requires high-quality deposition of the superconductors, precise machining of the devices with electron beam lithography, and accurate etching of the films. Many parts of the process have been characterized. Additionally, two new directions are being explored. The first attempts to exploit the recently proposed detection mechanism to make detectors with much wider wires, leading to faster detection rates. The second is the fabrication of superconducting single-photon detectors directly onto optical fibers, eliminating the need for complicated coupling structures and alignment of the detector with the fiber.

•May 1, 2020•0 citations

Quantum detectors in superconducting YBCO

Nathan Bluzer, Martin G. Forrester

A superconducting quantum detector structure in YBCO is described with a directly coupled SQUID read out circuit. The detector geometry is optimized for maximum photoresponse with the use of a serpentine pattern. The serpentine pattern reduces quasiparticle diffusion effects and maximizes the photoinduced changes in the kinetic inductance. The operation of this sensor is analyzed in terms of geometry and quasiparticle lifetime to obtain expressions for the signal and noise of this detector. The background limited infrared performance of this detector is calculated to be about 5/spl times/10/sup -17/ NEP. The photoresponse is expected to be limited by the superconducting energy gap, about 30-40 /spl mu/m.>

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 1995•2 citations
The discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) spawned many potential applications, including optical detectors. Realizing viable superconducting detectors requires achieving performance superior to competing and more mature semiconductor detector technologies, and quantum detector technologies in particular. We review why quantum detectors are inherently more sensitive than thermal or bolometric detectors. This sensitivity advantage suggests that for operation at cryogenic temperatures, we should be developing only quantum superconducting detectors. Accordingly, we introduce and describe the structure and the operation of a superconducting quantum detector with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) readout circuit. The superconducting quantum detector, consisting of a superconducting loop, produces a photosignal in response to photoinduced changes in the superconducting condensate's kinetic inductance. The superconducting quantum detector is designed to operate only in the superconducting state and not in the resistive or transition states.
The discovery of high temperature superconductors (HTS) spawned many potential applications, including optical detectors. Realizing viable superconducting detectors requires achieving performance superior to competing and more mature semiconductor detector technologies, and quantum detector technologies in particular. We review why quantum detectors are inherently more sensitive than thermal or bolometric detectors. This sensitivity advantage suggests that for operation at cryogenic temperatures we should be developing only quantum superconducting detectors. Accordingly, we introduce and describe the structure and the operation of a superconducting quantum detector with a SQUID read-out circuit. The superconducting quantum detector, consisting of a superconducting loop, produces a photosignal in response to photoinduced changes in the condensate's kinetic inductance. The superconducting quantum detector is designed to operate only in the superconducting state and not in the resistive or transition states.
Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor/normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provides a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillimeter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large scale superconducting detection systems are now being deployed. I will discuss the prospects for a new generation of instruments designed to take full advantage of the revolution in detector technology.
Cryogenically cooled superconducting detectors have become essential tools for a wide range of measurement applications, ranging from quantum limited heterodyne detection in the millimeter range to direct searches for dark matter with superconducting phonon detectors operating at 20 mK. Superconducting detectors have several fundamental and practical advantages which have resulted in their rapid adoption by experimenters. Their excellent performance arises in part from reductions in noise resulting from their low operating temperatures, but unique superconducting properties provide a wide range of mechanisms for detection. For example, the steep dependence of resistance with temperature on the superconductor normal transition provides a sensitive thermometer for calorimetric and bolometric applications. Parametric changes in the properties of superconducting resonators provide a mechanism for high sensitivity detection of submillil.neter photons. From a practical point of view, the use of superconducting detectors has grown rapidly because many of these devices couple well to SQUID amplifiers, which are easily integrated with the detectors. These SQUID-based amplifiers and multiplexers have matured with the detectors; they are convenient to use, and have excellent noise performance. The first generation of fully integrated large-scale superconducting detection systems is now being deployed. Improved understanding of the operation of these detectors, combined with rapidly improving fabrication techniques, is quickly expanding the capability of these detectors. I will review the development and application of superconductor-based detectors, the ultimate limits to their performance, and consider prospects for their future applications. Continued advances promise to enable important new measurements in physics, and with appropriate advances in cryogenic infrastn~cturem, ay result in the use of these detectors in everyday monitoring applications.
SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) have been in use for more than half a century and constitute one of the first macroscopic quantum devices. SQUIDs operating at millikelvin temperatures can act as qubits for quantum computers and the recent reports of more than 50 qubit circuits indicate how far the technology has developed. In this talk, the author will describe two other applications of SQUIDs as quantum detectors, focusing on single spin and single photon energy resolving detection. Most superconducting devices rely on tri-layer Josephson tunnel junctions which are not easily scalable to the nanoscale. We have developed a Josephson junction fabrication method, based on electron beam lithography or focused ion beam milling of a single thin film of superconductor (Nb generally) which can provide sizes down to 50 nm. These devices are particularly relevant for two main applications in quantum technology and metrology. First, by shrinking the size of the SQUID loop and the junctions to around 200 nm, the sensitivity of the SQUID for magnetization measurements is improved to the level where a single electron spin flip may be detected. This is possible at the relatively elevated temperature of 4K.  We are working with Surrey University to implant single magnetic ions within the SQUID loop to provide a platform to test this combination as the basis for a new form of qubit operating at higher temperatures than the conventional Transmon superconducting devices. A second SQUID based detector which we are developing is an inductive transition edge sensor device (ISTED) for energy resolving measurements of single photons. This is based on the development of conventional transition edge sensors where we detect the change of the penetration depth of a small thin film of superconductor when it absorbs a photon. In this way, a major source of noise in conventional TES may be avoided since the absorber remains in the superconducting state at all times. In this way we have demonstrated single photon detection at 633 nm with 0.1eV resolution at operating temperature of 7.5K.
Superconducting single-photon detectors can detect photons from the UV to the infrared with quantum efficiencies above 90% and greater than MHz count rates. They consist of narrow, thin wires of superconductor biased near their critical current. When these wires absorb a photon, part of the wire stops superconducting and becomes resistive. This transition and sudden jump in resistance is what enables the detection of the photon. Over the past two decades, these devices have matured greatly as a technology and have found many applications ranging from quantum optics to astronomy. However, there are still multiple theories of the dominant mechanism behind these devices. Recently proposed theories suggest a more complicated but potentially more powerful detection mechanism, and experiments are only recently starting to demonstrate this effect and its potential applications. In this research, the capability to fabricate these intricate devices was developed. This requires high-quality deposition of the superconductors, precise machining of the devices with electron beam lithography, and accurate etching of the films. Many parts of the process have been characterized. Additionally, two new directions are being explored. The first attempts to exploit the recently proposed detection mechanism to make detectors with much wider wires, leading to faster detection rates. The second is the fabrication of superconducting single-photon detectors directly onto optical fibers, eliminating the need for complicated coupling structures and alignment of the detector with the fiber.
A superconducting quantum detector structure in YBCO is described with a directly coupled SQUID read out circuit. The detector geometry is optimized for maximum photoresponse with the use of a serpentine pattern. The serpentine pattern reduces quasiparticle diffusion effects and maximizes the photoinduced changes in the kinetic inductance. The operation of this sensor is analyzed in terms of geometry and quasiparticle lifetime to obtain expressions for the signal and noise of this detector. The background limited infrared performance of this detector is calculated to be about 5/spl times/10/sup -17/ NEP. The photoresponse is expected to be limited by the superconducting energy gap, about 30-40 /spl mu/m.>