Superconducting detectors count more photons

Bryan S. Robinson, Andrew J. Kerman, Eric A. Dauler +7 more

We demonstrate photon-counting communications using a NbN-nanowire superconducting detector. The fast response time of this detector enables error-free communications using pulse-position modulated data at 10-GHz slot rates and data rates >780 Mbit/s.

Daiji Fukuda

Martin J. Stevens, Robert H. Hadfield, Robert E. Schwall +2 more

We report use of a niobium nitride superconducting single-photon detector in a time-correlated single-photon counting experiment. The detector has a timing jitter of 68 ± 3 ps full width at half maximum with a Gaussian temporal profile. The detector's dark count rate and detection efficiency can be tuned by adjusting the bias current applied to the device. Typical values include a detection efficiency of ~1-2% and a dark count rate below 100 Hz. We use this detector to measure time-resolved photoluminescence at wavelengths up to 1650 nm, well beyond the range of conventional silicon detectors. We also use this superconducting detector to measure the emission of a quantum dot single-photon source.

Andreas Engel, Alexej D. Semenov, Heinz‐Wilhelm Hübers +2 more

Alexander A. Verevkin, Wojtek Slysz, Aaron J. Pearlman +9 more

We demonstrate that our ultrathin, nanometer-width NbN superconducting single-photon detectors are capable of above 1-GHz-frequency, real-time counting of near-infrared photons. The measured system jitter of the detector is below 15 ps.

Jin Chang, Iman Esmaeil Zadeh