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

Physica C Superconductivity

High-temperature superconducting nanowires for photon detection

Riccardo Arpaia, Mikkel Ejrnaes, L. Parlato, Francesco Tafuri, Roberto Cristiano, Dmitry S. Golubev, Roman Sobolewski, Thilo Bauch, Floriana Lombardi, G.P. Pepe

Published Dec 6, 2014• 47 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1016/j.physc.2014.09.017

Related papers

Multi-photon detection with superconducting nanowires

Zili Zhou

•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations

Superconductive Device: High Sensitive Single Photon Detection Technology using Superconducting Nanowire

茂人 三木, Shigehito Miki

•Oct 1, 2013•0 citations

Innovative direct manufacturing of tungsten carbide superconducting nanowires for photon detection applications via pulsed focused ion beam induced deposition

Cristina García-Pérez, Fernando J. Urbanos, Gabriel Caballero +4 more

We present the development and optical characterization of tungsten carbide superconducting nanowire devices for photon detection. They are nanofabricated by direct deposition via pulsed focused ion beam induced deposition (PFIBID) using Tungsten Hexacarbonyl (W(CO)₆) as precursor. The nanowires exhibit a critical temperature of 4.71 K and demonstrate a notable response to low-intensity CW or pulsed laser illumination . For the first time, in-operando photoresponse low-temperature maps reveal hotspot distributions under low power illumination and localized superconductivity suppression upon high fluence photon absorption at higher powers. Dynamic response measurements under 1 MHz repetition rate, 640 nm pulsed laser excitation highlight the fast temporal response of the detectors and high operation stability near saturation. While currently operating in the multi-photon regime (9 photons/output-pulse), the findings emphasize their potential for single-photon detection with further optimization of material thickness (target <25 nm) and excitation schemes. This work demonstrates the significant promise to direct nanofabricate superconducting devices based on WC for advanced quantum applications.

Materials Today Quantum•Apr 26, 2025•0 citations

Modeling the effect of superconductor properties on sensitivity and responsivity of superconducting nanowire single photon detector

S. Haldar, Arun Sehrawat, Krishna Balasubramanian

Superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) is a leading candidate for applications requiring the fundamental limit of light detection at high detection rates. While SNSPD technology employing nanowires from conventional low temperature superconducting detectors is mature with several commercial solutions, other material options with higher transition temperature approaching liquid nitrogen with faster signal responses are actively being explored. In this context, we develop a comprehensive model that predicts the final potential response from an SNSPD incorporating several physical and material aspects. A phase diagram of photon detection is developed that describes the latching phases and the photon sensitivity as a function of biasing current and temperature for both low temperature and high temperature superconductors. On the one hand, while low temperature superconductors are observed to be more sensitive than high temperature superconductors (HTSs) under any given biasing condition, a biasing window for a single photon detection with HTS nanowires is identified. On the other hand, HTS nanowires demonstrate three orders of magnitude faster response times than the low temperature superconductor nanowire at the same biasing condition, making it uniquely suited for several practical applications.

Journal of Applied Physics•Nov 6, 2024•4 citations

High-Operating-Temperature Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors

Angel E. Velasco, Daniel Cunnane, R.J. Briggs +11 more

•Sep 4, 2016•0 citations

Superconducting Nanowire Architectures for Single Photon Detection

Faraz Najafi, Francesco Marsili, Varun Boehm Verma +4 more

Quantum science and technology•Jan 1, 2016•8 citations
We present the development and optical characterization of tungsten carbide superconducting nanowire devices for photon detection. They are nanofabricated by direct deposition via pulsed focused ion beam induced deposition (PFIBID) using Tungsten Hexacarbonyl (W(CO)₆) as precursor. The nanowires exhibit a critical temperature of 4.71 K and demonstrate a notable response to low-intensity CW or pulsed laser illumination . For the first time, in-operando photoresponse low-temperature maps reveal hotspot distributions under low power illumination and localized superconductivity suppression upon high fluence photon absorption at higher powers. Dynamic response measurements under 1 MHz repetition rate, 640 nm pulsed laser excitation highlight the fast temporal response of the detectors and high operation stability near saturation. While currently operating in the multi-photon regime (9 photons/output-pulse), the findings emphasize their potential for single-photon detection with further optimization of material thickness (target <25 nm) and excitation schemes. This work demonstrates the significant promise to direct nanofabricate superconducting devices based on WC for advanced quantum applications.
Superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) is a leading candidate for applications requiring the fundamental limit of light detection at high detection rates. While SNSPD technology employing nanowires from conventional low temperature superconducting detectors is mature with several commercial solutions, other material options with higher transition temperature approaching liquid nitrogen with faster signal responses are actively being explored. In this context, we develop a comprehensive model that predicts the final potential response from an SNSPD incorporating several physical and material aspects. A phase diagram of photon detection is developed that describes the latching phases and the photon sensitivity as a function of biasing current and temperature for both low temperature and high temperature superconductors. On the one hand, while low temperature superconductors are observed to be more sensitive than high temperature superconductors (HTSs) under any given biasing condition, a biasing window for a single photon detection with HTS nanowires is identified. On the other hand, HTS nanowires demonstrate three orders of magnitude faster response times than the low temperature superconductor nanowire at the same biasing condition, making it uniquely suited for several practical applications.