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

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors: recent progress

Xiaolong HuYuhao, ChengChao Gu, Xiaotian ZhuHaiyi Liu

Published Jan 1, 2015• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Research of superconducting nanowire single- photon detectors (SNSPDs) has been progressing rapidly in recent years. The combined properties of high efficiency, low noise, and fast speed of SNSPDs permit its applications ranging from long-distance quantum teleportation to moon- to-earth optical communications. Here we briefly discussed recent progress of SNSPDs, in particular (1) tungsten- silicide SNSPDs, (2) waveguide-integrated SNSPDs, and (3) a few applied demonstrations.

Related papers

Recent Progress and Application of Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors

Taro Yamashita, Shigehito Miki, Hirotaka Terai

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.

IEICE Transactions on Electronics•Jan 1, 2017•30 citations

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors: A perspective on evolution, state-of-the-art, future developments, and applications

Iman Esmaeil Zadeh, Jin Chang, Johannes W. N. Los +5 more

Two decades after their demonstration, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have become indispensable tools for quantum photonics as well as for many other photon-starved applications. This invention has not only led to a burgeoning academic field with a wide range of applications but also triggered industrial efforts. Current state-of-the-art SNSPDs combine near-unity detection efficiency over a wide spectral range, low dark counts, short dead times, and picosecond time resolution. The present perspective discusses important milestones and progress of SNSPDs research, emerging applications, and future challenges and gives an outlook on technological developments required to bring SNSPDs to the next level: a photon-counting, fast time-tagging imaging, and multi-pixel technology that is also compatible with quantum photonic integrated circuits.

Applied Physics Letters•May 10, 2021•338 citations

Nanowire superconducting single photon detectors progress and promise1

Sae Woo Nam, Varun Boehm Verma, Michael S. Allman +7 more

Since the first reported detection of a single photon using a superconducting nanowire in 2001, rapid progress has been made in the development and application of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD or SSPD). I will briefly describe use of these detectors in new applications, progress in detector developments, and describe areas of research and their potential impact.

•Jan 1, 2014•1 citation

Status and prospect of superconducting nanowire single photon detection

尤立星 You Lixing

Superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) is an optical detector with quantum-limit sensitivity. The detection mechanism is based on the Cooper-pair breaking by the photon energy, which results in a phase transition from superconducting state to non-superconducting state. SNSPDs surpass the semiconducting counterparts with high detection efficiency, low dark count rate, small timing jitter, short dead time, broad spectrum sensitivity as well as free-running etc. SNSPDs with high performance have been applied in various fields, such as, quantum information, laser communication, light detection and ranging. The progress of SNSPD research and development, application as well as commercialization at home and abroad in the past few years was summarized. An outlook of SNSPDs' RD as well as applications was also provided.

Infrared and Laser Engineering•Jan 1, 2018•3 citations

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors： recent progress

Xiaolong, Hu, Hao Yu +7 more

超导的 nanowire 的研究单个光子的察觉者(SNSPD ) 在最近的年里很快一直在进行。SNSPD 的高效率，低噪音，和快速度的联合性质允许它从长途的量远距传物到 moon-to-earth 的应用光通讯。这里，我们简短讨论了 SNSPD 的最近的进步，特别地(1 ) tungsten-silicide SNSPD，(2 ) 波导综合的 SNSPD，并且(3 ) 一些应用示范。

中国科学通报：英文版•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

Superconducting single photon detectors

Sae Woo Nam, Brice Calkins, T. Gerritts +9 more

There is increasing interest in using superconducting optical photon detectors in a variety of applications. These applications require detectors that have extremely low dark count rates, high count rates, and high quantum efficiency. I will describe our work on two types of superconducting detectors, the Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector (SNSPD or nSSPD) and superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor (TES). An SNSPD is an ultra-thin, ultra-narrow (nm scale) superconducting meander that is current biased just below its critical current density. When one or more photon is absorbed, a hot spot is formed that causes the superconductor to develop a resistance and consequently a voltage pulse. At NIST and JPL, we have been developing nanowire detectors using an amorphous alloy of tungsten-silicide. An example of this detector is shown in Fig 1(a). In this case, there are two tungsten silicide layers separated by a dielectric layer to optimize detection of light for any polarization[1]. Fig 1(b) is an example of a TES detector with gold cooling fins to enhance timing of the detector[2]. By exploiting the sharp superconducting-to-normal resistive transition of tungsten at 100mK, TES detectors give an output signal that is proportional to the cumulative energy in an absorption event. This proportional pulse-height enables the determination of the energy absorbed by the TES and the direct conversion of sensor pulse-height into photon number. I will discuss our progress towards developing both types of detectors with quantum efficiencies approaching 100%.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2013•0 citations
Research of superconducting nanowire single- photon detectors (SNSPDs) has been progressing rapidly in recent years. The combined properties of high efficiency, low noise, and fast speed of SNSPDs permit its applications ranging from long-distance quantum teleportation to moon- to-earth optical communications. Here we briefly discussed recent progress of SNSPDs, in particular (1) tungsten- silicide SNSPDs, (2) waveguide-integrated SNSPDs, and (3) a few applied demonstrations.
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.
Two decades after their demonstration, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have become indispensable tools for quantum photonics as well as for many other photon-starved applications. This invention has not only led to a burgeoning academic field with a wide range of applications but also triggered industrial efforts. Current state-of-the-art SNSPDs combine near-unity detection efficiency over a wide spectral range, low dark counts, short dead times, and picosecond time resolution. The present perspective discusses important milestones and progress of SNSPDs research, emerging applications, and future challenges and gives an outlook on technological developments required to bring SNSPDs to the next level: a photon-counting, fast time-tagging imaging, and multi-pixel technology that is also compatible with quantum photonic integrated circuits.
Superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) is an optical detector with quantum-limit sensitivity. The detection mechanism is based on the Cooper-pair breaking by the photon energy, which results in a phase transition from superconducting state to non-superconducting state. SNSPDs surpass the semiconducting counterparts with high detection efficiency, low dark count rate, small timing jitter, short dead time, broad spectrum sensitivity as well as free-running etc. SNSPDs with high performance have been applied in various fields, such as, quantum information, laser communication, light detection and ranging. The progress of SNSPD research and development, application as well as commercialization at home and abroad in the past few years was summarized. An outlook of SNSPDs' RD as well as applications was also provided.
There is increasing interest in using superconducting optical photon detectors in a variety of applications. These applications require detectors that have extremely low dark count rates, high count rates, and high quantum efficiency. I will describe our work on two types of superconducting detectors, the Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector (SNSPD or nSSPD) and superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor (TES). An SNSPD is an ultra-thin, ultra-narrow (nm scale) superconducting meander that is current biased just below its critical current density. When one or more photon is absorbed, a hot spot is formed that causes the superconductor to develop a resistance and consequently a voltage pulse. At NIST and JPL, we have been developing nanowire detectors using an amorphous alloy of tungsten-silicide. An example of this detector is shown in Fig 1(a). In this case, there are two tungsten silicide layers separated by a dielectric layer to optimize detection of light for any polarization[1]. Fig 1(b) is an example of a TES detector with gold cooling fins to enhance timing of the detector[2]. By exploiting the sharp superconducting-to-normal resistive transition of tungsten at 100mK, TES detectors give an output signal that is proportional to the cumulative energy in an absorption event. This proportional pulse-height enables the determination of the energy absorbed by the TES and the direct conversion of sensor pulse-height into photon number. I will discuss our progress towards developing both types of detectors with quantum efficiencies approaching 100%.