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IEEE Toronto International Conference Science and Technology for Humanity

A complete set of characterizations on the NbN superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

Zhizhong Yan, A. Hamed Majedi

Published Sep 1, 2009• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The recent advancement on niobium nitride (NbN) superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have drawn considerable attentions by many of their particular figures of merit. In this work, we report our experimental efforts resulting from combinations of dc, RF/microwave and optoelectronic characterizations of this device. The dc IV measurement is under-taken in the full voltage bias range and four distinct regimes are recognized and discussed. The kinetic inductance measurement allows us to gain insights on the electrical properties of the NbN nanowire. An equivalent circuitry model is constructed and simulated for the photoresponse in the course of RF/Microwave S-parameter measurement. The simulated photoresponse qualitatively agrees with the experimental results. Finally we apply continuous wave irradiation to investigate the optical interactions with superconducting nanowires. A relationship between chemical potential and optical power and wavelength has been experimentally confirmed. Two regimes have been identified and physically modeled. The comparison with experimental results displays a good agreement.

DOI
10.1109/tic-sth.2009.5444529

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The recent advancement on niobium nitride (NbN) superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have drawn considerable attentions by many of their particular figures of merit. In this work, we report our experimental efforts resulting from combinations of dc, RF/microwave and optoelectronic characterizations of this device. The dc IV measurement is under-taken in the full voltage bias range and four distinct regimes are recognized and discussed. The kinetic inductance measurement allows us to gain insights on the electrical properties of the NbN nanowire. An equivalent circuitry model is constructed and simulated for the photoresponse in the course of RF/Microwave S-parameter measurement. The simulated photoresponse qualitatively agrees with the experimental results. Finally we apply continuous wave irradiation to investigate the optical interactions with superconducting nanowires. A relationship between chemical potential and optical power and wavelength has been experimentally confirmed. Two regimes have been identified and physically modeled. The comparison with experimental results displays a good agreement.
The recent advancement of superconducting nano devices has allowed for making a Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector (SNSPD), whose extraordinary features have strongly motivated the research community to exploit it in many practical applications. In this thesis, an experimental setup for testing the SNSPD has been established. It contains an in-house packaging that meets the requirements of RF/microwave and optoelectronic characterizations. The quantum efficiency and detection efficiency measurements have confirmed that our approach is satisfactory. The dark count performance has reached the anticipated level. The factors affecting rise and fall times of the photoresponses are addressed. \n \nBased on the successful setup, the characterizations including dc, small signal ac measurements have been undertaken. The measurements are aimed at quantitatively investigating Cooper pair density in the superconducting nanowire. The experimental method involves a two-step, small signal S-parameter measurement either in the presence or absence of optical powers. The subsequent measurements by varying the temperature and dc bias current have achieved remarkable understanding on the physical properties of SNSPD nanowires. Then, the electrically induced nonlinearity is studied via the large signal RF and Microwave measurements. The experiments are a set of one-tone and two-tone measurements, in which either the RF driving power is varied at a fixed frequency, or vice versa. Two major nonlinear microwave circuit analysis methods, i.e. time-domain transient and hybrid-domain harmonic balance analysis, are employed. The simulation result reveals the optimized conditions of reaching the desired nonlinearity. \n \nFinally, we have successfully measured the optoelectronic mixing products in an electrically pumped optoelectronic mixer, which has identical structures as that of the SNSPD. The experiments confirm that this mixer is not only sensitive to the classical light intensities, but also to that of the single photon level. Meanwhile, the quantum conversion matrices is derived to interpret the quantum optoelectronic mixing effects.
Superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) continues to be investigated decades on, largely in part to its advantageous superconducting properties and wide use in superconducting electronics. Particularly, NbN-based superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have shown exceptional performance and NbN remains as the material of choice in developing future generation quantum devices. In this perspective, we describe the processing-structure-property relationships governing the superconducting properties of NbN films. We further discuss the complex interplay between the material properties, processing parameters, substrate materials, device architectures, and performance of SNSPDs. We also highlight the latest progress in optimizing SNSPD performance parameters.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are nanodevices usually made from thin niobium nitride (NbN) films. Operated at liquid helium temperature, they can exhibit high detection efficiency with low dark-counts associated with a fast response time and a low timing jitter. Covering a broad detection range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared, SNSPDs are a very attractive alternative to silicon or gallium arsenide based semiconductor detectors for fiber based telecommunication when single-photon sensitivity and high counting rates are necessary. \nEfficient packaging and fiber coupling of a SNSPD is in itself a real challenge and is often a limiting factor in reaching high system quantum efficiency. Our approach makes use of a controlled expansion alloy which has been adequately heat treated to enhance its characteristics for cryogenic operation. This insures the integrity of the optical coupling at cryogenic temperatures while done at room temperature. It also provides a good attenuation for electromagnetic interference due to the high relative permeability of the nickel-iron alloy. The small form factor of this pigtailed optical fiber package makes it versatile and could be easily integrated with a commercial cryogen-free system or simply dipped into a standard helium transport Dewar. We report on our theoretical and experimental methodology to evaluate the optical coupling quality and present the optoelectronic characterization of two devices packaged in this way. Electrical simulation is studied to understand the speed limitation factor inherent to these devices and preliminary speed and jitter measurements are reported.
This article is a study of superconducting niobium(Nb)nanowires used as optical and near-infrared single photon detectors.In this paper,the fabrication process of Nb+Al based superconducting nanowire single photon detectors(SNSPD)using lift-off process will be presented.Transition temperature(Tc)of devices is measured with PPMS and good devices are chosen.With a DC bias current applied close to the critical current(Ic),the nanowire showed an electrical signal when illuminated by a laser pulse at the telecommunications wavelength(1550nm).The detection efficiency of 5nm-thickness SNSPD are measured.
In this paper, we present our experimental results on the electrically pumped optoelectronic mixing effect exhibited in a niobium nitride (NbN) superconducting nanowire. The experimental setup in order to test the mixer has been reported in detail. This superconductive nanowire optoelectronic mixer demonstrates photodetection and mixing in an integrated manner. We have explored both effects under a great variety of external conditions, such as temperature and bias current, in order to seek potential ways toward quantum optoelectronic detection and mixing by such nanowire device.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent detection performance; however, the underlying physics of the detection process is still unclear. In this study, we investigate the wavelength dependence of the intrinsic detection efficiency (IDE) for NbN SNSPDs. We fabricate various NbN SNSPDs with linewidths ranging from 30 nm to 140 nm. Then, for each detector, the IDE curves as a function of bias current for different incident photon wavelengths of 510–1700 nm are obtained. From the IDE curves, the relations between photon energy and bias current at a certain IDE are extracted. The results exhibit clear nonlinear energy–current relations for the NbN detectors, indicating that a detection model only considering quasiparticle diffusion is unsuitable for the meander-type NbN-based SNSPDs. Our work provides additional experimental data on SNSPD detection mechanism and may serve as an interesting reference for further investigation.