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TEION KOGAKU (Journal of Cryogenics and Superconductivity Society of Japan)

Cryogenic Signal Processing Using Single-flux-quantum Circuit for High Performance Multi-pixel Superconducting Nanowire Single-photon Detectors

Hirotaka Terai, Shigehito Miki, Taro Yamashita, Shigeyuki Miyajima, Masahiro Yabuno

Published Jan 1, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs) with a system detection efficiency (SDE) of over 80% are now commercially available and being used in compact Gifford-McMahon refrigerators. However, not only high SDE, but also total performance including a low dark count rate, high maximum count rate and/or low timing jitter are important for many applications. A multi-pixel SSPD combined with signal processing using a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuit is a very promising approach to improve the system performance of SSPDs. In this review, we introduce our recent activities on cryogenic signal processing using SFQ circuits to realize high-performance multi-pixel SSPDs.

DOI
10.2221/jcsj.52.340

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Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs) with a system detection efficiency (SDE) of over 80% are now commercially available and being used in compact Gifford-McMahon refrigerators. However, not only high SDE, but also total performance including a low dark count rate, high maximum count rate and/or low timing jitter are important for many applications. A multi-pixel SSPD combined with signal processing using a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuit is a very promising approach to improve the system performance of SSPDs. In this review, we introduce our recent activities on cryogenic signal processing using SFQ circuits to realize high-performance multi-pixel SSPDs.
A single-flux-quantum circuit is a promising device for a cryogenic signal processor for a superconducting nanostrip single photon detector （SNSPD） due to its high-speed operation, low power dissipation, and low timing jitter. The cryogenic signal processor based on the SFQ circuits can sense the output signals of multi-pixel SNSPDs with low timing jitter in a low temperature stage, which provides an advanced SNSPD system such as a high-count rate system, a two-photon coincidence system, a single-photon imaging system, and so forth. We have developed and demonstrated some SNSPD systems using an SFQ signal processor in a 0.1-W Gifford-McMahon （GM） cryocooler. In this review, we introduce a cryogenic signal processor based on SFQ circuits for advanced SNSPD systems.
We present our recent progress in development of a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SSPD) system. Our practical SSPD system with a compactGifford-McMahon cryocooler successfully achieved the high system detection efficiency of 74%, low dark count of 100 cps, and small timing jitter of 68 ps in one device simultaneously, which is useful for actual applications. Furthermore, we propose and demonstrate a new strategy to resolve a trade-off problem between the system detection efficiency and counting rate (speed) in the SSPD.
Single-photon detection is extremely important for a number of different applications such as quantum cryptography, CMOS testing and even biomedical research. Most of the applications of single-photon detector require high efficiency combined with high time resolution, high count rates and low dark counts. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors has emerged provides this combination unlike any other available single-photon detectors. Some of the applications of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPD's) require larger area SNSPD's without affecting it's performance. For this purpose, multi-pixel SNSPD's would provide a solution. To this end, prototype 4- and 16-pixel detectors have been characterised in terms of a number of performance parameters such as critical current, count rate behaviour and timing jitter. Aside from this, simulations have been performed on detection statistics and relative illumination of the individual pixels of a multi-pixel SNSPD. Results show that for 4-pixel detectors, all desired aspects have been achieved, but not yet combined in one detector. The 16-pixel detectors showed excellent critical currents and count rate behaviour but, most likely due to the fact that they were prototype chips with little to no protection, had several not functioning pixels.
A two-dimensional single-photon imaging system with high sensitivity and high time resolution is the ultimate camera and useful in a wide range of fields. A superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SSPD or SNSPD) is one of the best candidates for realizing such an ultimate camera due to its high detection efficiency in a wide spectral range, low dark count rate without after-pulsing, and excellent time resolution. Here we propose a new readout scheme to realize a large-scale imaging array based on SSPD, where a row-column readout architecture is combined with a digital signal processor based on a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) circuit. A 16-pixel row-column readout SSPD array is fabricated and measured with an SFQ digital signal processor. We successfully acquired spatial information as encoded digital bit codes with the temporal information of the photon detection. The system timing jitter was measured as <80 ps for all 16 pixels even through the SFQ signal processor, indicating the potential for an imaging array with an extremely high time resolution.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs or SNSPDs) have superior performance and are thus used for many applications, such as quantum information and laser communications. Lately, much effort has been spent on the development of multi-pixel SSPD arrays to achieve single-photon-level imaging. SSPD arrays require efficient readout schemes that reduce the number of coaxial cables for reading out the SSPD pixels. In a previous study, we proposed a readout interface using adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP) logic, which digitizes the information of an SSPD at cryogenic temperature. In this study, we show the first demonstration of an SSPD that is read out by the AQFP readout interface placed in the same 0.1-W Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. The measurement results show that the AQFP readout interface reads out the SSPD with low error rates. Also, it is found that the temperature of the sample stage does not change even after the AQFP readout interface is turned on, which indicates that the power and current required for the AQFP readout interface are sufficiently low for the implementation using a compact cryocooler.
In this review, we present recent advances relating to superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SSPDs or SNSPDs) and their broad range of applications. During a period exceeding ten years, the system performance of SSPDs has been drastically improved, and lately excellent detection efficiencies have been realized in practical systems for a wide range of target photon wavelengths. Owing to their advantages such as high system detection efficiency, low dark count rate, and excellent timing jitter, SSPDs have found application in various research fields such as quantum information, quantum optics, optical communication, and also in the life sciences. We summarize the photon detection principle and the current performance status of practical SSPD systems. In addition, we introduce application examples in which SSPDs have been applied.