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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Telecom-Wavelength Photon Number Resolving Detectors Based on the Series Array of Superconducting Nanowires

S. Jahanmirinejad, G. Frucci, F. Mattioli, Dondu Sahin, Alessandro Gaggero, Roberto Leoni, Andrea Fiore

Published Jan 1, 2012• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We present a novel photon number resolving detector based on the series array of superconducting nanowires, each shunted by an integrated resistor. The device can successfully discriminate between 1–4 absorbed photons in telecom-wavelength optical pulses.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_at.2012.cth5d.3

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We present the experimental demonstration of a superconducting photon number resolving detector. It is based on the series connection of N superconducting nanowires, each connected in parallel to an integrated resistor. The device provides a single voltage readout, proportional to the number of photons absorbed in distinct nanowires. Clearly separated output levels corresponding to the detection of n=1-4 photons are observed in a 4-element detector fabricated from an NbN film on GaAs substrate, with a single-photon system quantum efficiency of 2.6% at the wavelength of 1300nm. The series-nanowire structure is promising in view of its scalability to large photon numbers and high efficiencies.
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The experimental demonstration of a superconducting photon-number-resolving detector, based on the series connection of N superconducting nanowires, is presented. An integrated resistor is connected in parallel to each section of the device that provides in this way a single voltage-readout, proportional to the number of photons detected in distinct nanowires. As a proof of principle a four element detector has been fabricated from an NbN film on a GaAs substrate and fully characterized. Clearly separated output levels corresponding to the detection of n = 1 – 4 photons are observed achieving a single-photon system quantum efficiency of 2.6% at λ=1.3 μm. In order to demonstrate the potential scalability of the series-nanowire detector to a larger number of photons, we report our preliminary results in the characterization of detectors fabricated with 8 and 12 pixels. Clear evidence of n= 1-8 photon absorption in the 8-pixel detector has been achieved.