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International Conference on Functional Integrated nanoSystems (nanoFIS)

Superconducting Nanowire Devices for Light Detection at the Single-Photon Level

Stephan Steinhauer, Samuel Gyger, Ali W. Elshaari, Julien Zichi, Iman Esmaeil Zadeh, Jin Chang, Johannes W. N. Los, Nima Kalhor, Sander N. Dorenbos, Val Zwiller

Published Dec 8, 2020• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have become a mature technology for single-photon detection with excellent performance [...]
DOI
10.3390/proceedings2020056004

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Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) excel at a wide variety of performance criteria for single photon counting. They combine unprecedented high detection efficiency, high timing resolution, high count rates, low intrinsic dark count rates, and are sensitive to ultraviolet through mid-infrared single-photons. At JPL, we are working on several projects to push the performance limits of SNSPDs to achieve higher maximum count rates, larger active areas, higher timing resolution, and a wider spectral range. Our recent advances enable new applications for dark matter detection, imaging, and space-to-ground communication and provide insight into the fundamental physics of single-photon detection in superconducting nanowires.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have distinguished themselves as a near-optimal choice for a range of quantum information applications, including integrated photonics and quantum key distribution. But the most recent demands from the quantum domain are stretching their capabilities. In particular, photon number resolution has not been readily available in high-performance variants of the devices, and superconducting nanowires were generally thought not to be capable of intrinsic photon number resolution. Recently, significant results in this area have shown that photon number resolution is quite practical with SNSPDs. In addition, wider nanowires have shown good performance, suggesting that the devices can be fabricated using standard photolithography equipment. In this talk, I will review the SNSPD technology, as well as discuss our latest results.
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