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Applied Physics Letters

Simultaneous resolution of photon numbers and positions with series-connected superconducting nanowires

Guanglong He, Haochen Li, Rui Yin, Labao Zhang, Daxing Dong, Jiayu Lv, Yue Fei, Xiaohan Wang, Qi Henry Chen, Feiyan Li, Hui Li, Hao Wang, Xuecou Tu, Qingyuan Zhao, Xiaoqing Jia, Jian Chen, Lin Kang, Peiheng Wu

Published Mar 21, 2022• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this Letter, we report on a device with which to resolve photon numbers and positions simultaneously, using single-channel readout from superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). The nanowires in the SNSPDs are connected in series with parallel resistors for producing response pulses with different amplitudes, whose values obey a distribution of 1:2:4:,..,2n-1. In single-photon detection, a saturated counting rate is obtained at a low dark count rate (<10 cps). Furthermore, we observed 16 output modes corresponding one-to-one with 16 states (15 photon responses + 1 state without photons) in multiphoton mode. This structure not only inherits the advantages of high quantum efficiency and low dark count rate of traditional SNSPD, but also realizes the resolution of photon position and number simultaneously without complicated optical system. Thus, this proposal offers a promising platform for realizing scalable and practical quantum information chips.

DOI
10.1063/5.0084744

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In this Letter, we report on a device with which to resolve photon numbers and positions simultaneously, using single-channel readout from superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). The nanowires in the SNSPDs are connected in series with parallel resistors for producing response pulses with different amplitudes, whose values obey a distribution of 1:2:4:,..,2n-1. In single-photon detection, a saturated counting rate is obtained at a low dark count rate (<10 cps). Furthermore, we observed 16 output modes corresponding one-to-one with 16 states (15 photon responses + 1 state without photons) in multiphoton mode. This structure not only inherits the advantages of high quantum efficiency and low dark count rate of traditional SNSPD, but also realizes the resolution of photon position and number simultaneously without complicated optical system. Thus, this proposal offers a promising platform for realizing scalable and practical quantum information chips.
We present the experimental demonstration of a superconducting photon number resolving detector. It is based on the series connection of N superconducting nanowires, each connected in parallel to an integrated resistor. The device provides a single voltage readout, proportional to the number of photons absorbed in distinct nanowires. Clearly separated output levels corresponding to the detection of n=1-4 photons are observed in a 4-element detector fabricated from an NbN film on GaAs substrate, with a single-photon system quantum efficiency of 2.6% at the wavelength of 1300nm. The series-nanowire structure is promising in view of its scalability to large photon numbers and high efficiencies.
We report a 16-pixel (4×4) superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) array featuring pixel-level photon-number-resolving capability. This multidimensional sensing is enabled by integrating a compact four-element series nanowire architecture into each spatial pixel, allowing direct discrimination of one to four photons. Under single-mode fiber illumination, the device achieves a total system detection efficiency of 41.5%, given the array geometrical fill factor of 53%. Across all channels, the device exhibits reliable multiphoton discrimination, maintaining minimum readout fidelities of 96%, 89%, 73%, and 77% for one- to four-photon states, respectively. Furthermore, independent channel evaluations reveal low timing jitter and negligible inter-channel crosstalk (<0.1 % ). By implementing differentiating pulse shaping for high-flux operation, a maximum single-channel −3 dB count rate of 984 MHz is achieved, establishing an aggregated array bandwidth potential of 8.9 GHz. This sensing architecture may provide a viable pathway toward high-flux single-photon imaging, offering potential applications in quantum optics and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have shown to be promising in applications such as quantum communication and computation, quantum optics, imaging, metrology and sensing. They offer the advantages of a low dark count rate, high efficiency, a broadband response, a short time jitter, a high repetition rate, and no need for gated-mode operation. Several SNSPD designs have been proposed in literature. Here, we discuss the so-called parallel nanowires configurations. They were introduced with the aim of improving some SNSPD property like detection efficiency, speed, signal-to-noise ratio, or photon number resolution. Although apparently similar, the various parallel designs are not the same. There is no one design that can improve the mentioned properties all together. In fact, each design presents its own characteristics with specific advantages and drawbacks. In this work, we will discuss the various designs outlining peculiarities and possible improvements.
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Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have abstracted widespread attention in the fields of quantum information and quantum photonics due to their high detection efficiency and low dark count rates (DCR). However, single-pixel SNSPDs exist the notable limitations in detection speed and photon number resolution (PNR) capabilities, which pose challenges for practical applications. In this study, we propose a design of a series four-pixel SNSPD that incorporates a SPICE circuit simulation model to achieve PNR and spatial resolution of the four photons in an ideal state, and then determine the optical cavity structure of the detector at the highest light absorption of up to 97% through optical simulation. This design provides a theoretical foundation for the subsequent fabrication of large-area SNSPD with PNR and spatial resolution, significantly improving the flexibility and adaptability of SNSPDs to meet diverse detection requirements. Furthermore, our work also lays a research foundation for multi-photon detection in quantum communication and quantum computing.
Abstract A series superconducting nanowire single-photon detector is a high performance nanowire array detector that has the potential to reach a high system detection efficiency (SQE), a high counting rate (CR) and photon number resolving functionality. Interconnected with a simplified readout, it shows promise for large scale expansion and has good prospects for future applications in single-photon imaging, quantum optics, quantum computing and deep-space communication. In this paper, we demonstrate a high SQE and CR series superconducting nanowire single-photon detector with an active area of 20 × 20 μ m 2 . The detector shows a maximum SQE of 68% at 1550 nm with a dark count rate of 200 Hz and a wide response wavelength from 1100–2000 nm. It also achieves a CR over 300 MHz at single photon power level and has the capability of resolving photon numbers by up to six photons.