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Quantum Nanophotonic Materials, Devices, and Systems

Mid-infrared photon counting with superconducting nanowires

D. Morozov, Gregor G. Taylor, Kleanthis Erotokritou, Shigehito Miki, Hirotaka Terai, Robert H. Hadfield

Published Jul 30, 2021• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Superconducting Nanowire Single photon Detectors (SNSPDs) offer unparalleled performance for IR photon counting, combining close to unity quantum efficiency, low intrinsic noise and ultrafast timing jitter. The ability of SNSPDs to count photons in mid-IR band up to 7 um wavelength opens up new possibilities in quantum optics, laser ranging, free space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and astronomy. Here we report on development of mid-IR SNSPDs including device design, fabrication, optimisation of superconducting materials and characterisation. We present a characterisation setup covering 1.5 - 4.2 um spectral region based on tuneable optical parametric oscillator with picosecond long pulses. We then demonstrate the viability of mid infrared SNSPDs for a variety of applications and report the results from single photon light detection and ranging (LIDAR) experiment with 2.3 um photons. This work paves the way for future app in free space QKD, deep space communication and astronomy.

DOI
10.1117/12.2597196

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Superconducting Nanowire Single photon Detectors (SNSPDs) offer unparalleled performance for IR photon counting, combining close to unity quantum efficiency, low intrinsic noise and ultrafast timing jitter. The ability of SNSPDs to count photons in mid-IR band up to 7 um wavelength opens up new possibilities in quantum optics, laser ranging, free space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and astronomy. Here we report on development of mid-IR SNSPDs including device design, fabrication, optimisation of superconducting materials and characterisation. We present a characterisation setup covering 1.5 - 4.2 um spectral region based on tuneable optical parametric oscillator with picosecond long pulses. We then demonstrate the viability of mid infrared SNSPDs for a variety of applications and report the results from single photon light detection and ranging (LIDAR) experiment with 2.3 um photons. This work paves the way for future app in free space QKD, deep space communication and astronomy.
Single-photon counting has become an essential tool in quantum optics experiments, as well as remote sensing and life science applications. However conventional technologies such as single-photon avalanche diodes, as well as the availability of standard telecom optical components, has limited much of this work to the near infrared/telecom wavelength range. Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have emerged in recent years as the gold standard in photon counting applications due to their low dark count rates, fast timing resolution and high efficiency [1]. SNSPDs have also demonstrated photon counting efficiency out to much greater wavelengths which enables us to explore new experimental possibilities in the mid-infrared [2]. In this work we design and fabricate mid-infrared SNSPDs and deploy them in a variety of photon counting experiments [3,4]. The devices are based on a NbTiN superconducting film integrated into an optical cavity to enhance absorption in the mid-infrared. We characterise these devices using an optical parametric oscillator, tuneable between 1.5 m and 4.2 m. We then deploy these in a proof-of-principle tabletop light detection and ranging (LIDAR) experiment at 2.3 m. LIDAR in the mid-infrared is attractive due to spectral regions of low atmospheric absorption and reduced solar background photon flux, when compared to telecom wavelengths. We also present results from a photon-pair source operating at 2 m. This is a key resource for extending quantum optics and quantum secure communications to the mid infrared domain. Pairs are generated using a custom lithium niobate crystal and detected using SNSPDs. We demonstrate two-photon interference and polarisation entanglement of the photon pairs at 2 m. This work opens the pathway to future development of quantum optics and quantum technologies in the mid-infrared spectral region. References [1] Gol’tsman et al Applied Physics Letters 79 705 (2001) [2] Marisli et al Nano Letters 12 (9) 4799 (2012) [3] G. G. Taylor et al Optics Express 26 (27) 38147 (2018) [4] S. Prabhakar et al Science Advances 6 (13) eaay5195 (2019)
Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD) offer excellent performance for infrared single photon detection, combining high efficiency, low timing jitter, low dark count rates and high photon counting rates. Promising application areas for SNSPDs include quantum key distribution, space-to-ground communications and single photon remote sensing [1]. SNSPDs are typically made with ultrathin niobium nitride (NbN) films with thickness 4 nm and a superconducting transition temperature above 9 K. NbN offers high performance in the near infrared but their sensitivity drops at wavelengths beyond 2 um. There is growing interest in potential photon counting applications in the mid infrared domain (for example remote sensing of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere [2]). One way to overcome the wavelength limit in NbN SNSPDs is to use films with a lower superconducting energy gap [3]. Here we report on the study of SNSPDs fabricated with thin films of titanium nitride (TiN). We compare TiN films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and by magnetron sputtering. The TiN films range in thickness from 5 to 60 nm, with superconducting transition temperatures from ~1 K to 3.5 K. We have analyzed the films via transmission electron microscopy and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. We characterize TiN SNSPDs performance from near to mid-infrared at wavelengths (1-4 um) with fast optical parametric oscillator (OPO) source. We compare the performance of TiN SNSPDs to devices based on other lower gap materials: MoSi, NbTiN, WSi. [1] Natarajan et al Superconductor Science and Technology 25 063001 (2012) [2] Abshire et al Laser Applications to Chemical, Security and Environmental Analysis, (Optical Society of America, 2008) paper LMA4 [3] Verma et al Applied Physics Letters 105 022602 (2014)
Extending single-photon detection capabilities into the mid- infrared is expected to have far-reaching implications for long-wavelength quantum optics, quantum and free-space communication, astronomy, environmental monitoring, and fundamental molecular sciences. We showcase the development of short-wave infrared (2.2-2.3 µm) and mid- wave infrared (3.0 µm) superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). In both wavelength ranges, we venture beyond state-of-the-art and achieve the best-reported system detection efficiencies and specific detectivity. We discuss the challenges in cryogenics, optics, and SNSPD design and use our mid-infrared single-photon detection to characterize emerging materials platforms and quantum emitters in a previously unattainable manner.
Extending single-photon detection capabilities into the mid- infrared is expected to have far-reaching implications for long-wavelength quantum optics, quantum and free-space communication, astronomy, environmental monitoring, and fundamental molecular sciences. We showcase the development of short-wave infrared (2.2-2.3 µm) and mid- wave infrared (3.0 µm) superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). In both wavelength ranges, we venture beyond state-of-the-art and achieve the best-reported system detection efficiencies and specific detectivity. We discuss the challenges in cryogenics, optics, and SNSPD design and use our mid-infrared single-photon detection to characterize emerging materials platforms and quantum emitters in a previously unattainable manner.
Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) are the most advanced detectors available for time-resolved single photon counting from the UV to the mid-infrared. We will discuss recent progress in SNSPD development for the ground terminal in NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) project as well as recent performance advances in other metrics, including the development of kilopixel SNSPD arrays, single-photon sensitivity at mid-infrared wavelengths as long as 10 microns, and SNSPDs with sub-3ps timing jitter. I will discuss a range of new potential scientific applications for SNSPDs, including exoplanet transit spectroscopy, dark matter detection, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, and quantum information science.