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2D Materials

Two-dimensional cuprate nanodetector with single telecom photon sensitivity at T = 20 K

Rafael Luque Merino, Paul Seifert, José Ramón Durán Retamal, Roop K. Mech, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Kazuo Kadowaki, Robert H. Hadfield, Dmitri K. Efetov

Published Jan 19, 2023• 45 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of low T C superconducting thin films limits their operation temperature to approximately 4 K and below. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20 K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow ∼ m s reset time and a low detection efficiency ( ∼ 10 − 4 ). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-T C nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.

DOI
10.1088/2053-1583/acb4a8

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Abstract Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of low T C superconducting thin films limits their operation temperature to approximately 4 K and below. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20 K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow ∼ m s reset time and a low detection efficiency ( ∼ 10 − 4 ). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-T C nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.
Detecting light at the single-photon level is one of the pillars of emergent photonic technologies. This is realized through state-of-the-art superconducting detectors that offer efficient, broadband and fast response. However, the use of superconducting thin films with low TC limits their operation temperature below 4K. In this work, we demonstrate proof-of-concept nanodetectors based on exfoliated, two-dimensional cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ (BSCCO) that exhibit single-photon sensitivity at telecom wavelength at a record temperature of T = 20K. These non-optimized devices exhibit a slow (ms) reset time and a low detection efficiency (10^(-4)). We realize the elusive prospect of single-photon sensitivity on a high-TC nanodetector thanks to a novel approach, combining van der Waals fabrication techniques and a non-invasive nanopatterning based on light ion irradiation. This result paves the way for broader application of single-photon technologies, relaxing the cryogenic constraints for single-photon detection at telecom wavelength.
Abstract Photodetectors based on nano-structured superconducting thin films are currently some of the most sensitive quantum sensors and are key enabling technologies in such broad areas as quantum information, quantum computation and radio-astronomy. However, their broader use is held back by the low operation temperatures which require expensive cryostats. Here, we demonstrate a high- T c superconducting photodetector, which shows orders of magnitude improved performance characteristics of any superconducting detector operated above 77 K, with a responsivity of 9.61 × 10 4 V W −1 , theoretically achievable noise equivalent power of 15.9 fW Hz 1/2 and nanosecond relaxation times. At 15 K the detector reaches an ultra-high performance of 2.33 × 10 7 V W −1 and 55.2 aW Hz 1/2 . It is based on van der Waals heterostructures of the high temperature superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+ δ , which are shaped into nano-wires with ultra-small form factor using focused helium ion beam irradiation. To highlight the versatility of the detector we demonstrate its fabrication and operation on a telecom grade SiN waveguide chip. Our detector significantly relaxes the demands of practical applications of superconducting detectors and displays its possible potential for photonics based quantum applications.
We report on superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on NbN nanowires and their application to single-photon measurements at telecom wavelengths. The detectors are realized by patterning ultra thin (3 - 5 nm-thick) NbN films into meanders of 100 nm-wide wires. The films are deposited by DC magnetron sputtering at relatively low temperatures (≈500 °C) on MgO and GaAs substrates (as compared to the approach of high-temperature deposition on sapphire). In 5 nm-thick films, TCsas high as 10 K and 11 K have been obtained on GaAs and MgO, respectively (Fig. 1). SSPDs have been fabricated by a two-mask process using electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching on 3.5nm thick NbN films deposited under optimal conditions on MgO. The detectors are 5 × 5 μm2in size, and composed of a 100 μm long, 100 nm wide nanowire folded in a meander pattern with filling factor of 40%. Typical room temperature resistivity ρ is of 190 μΩ·cm, and I-V curves at 4.2 K show a critical current density JCof about 6 MA·cm-2, which are state of the art values. Quantum efficiency (QE) was measured illuminating the detectors mounted in a liquid He bath through an optical fiber. Quantum efficiencies >10% are measured at 4.2 K, comparable to best results on sapphire substrates. In particular, SSPDs show a large increase in sensitivity, temporal resolution and maximum counting frequencies as compared to InGaAs avalanche photodiodes.
Photodetectors based on nano-structured superconducting thin films are currently some of the most sensitive quantum sensors and are key enabling technologies in such broad areas as quantum information, quantum computation and radio-astronomy. However, their broader use is held back by the low operation temperatures which require expensive cryostats. Here, we demonstrate a nitrogen cooled superconducting transition edge sensor, which shows orders of magnitude improved performance characteristics of any superconducting detector operated above 77K, with a responsivity of 9.61x10^4 V/W, noise equivalent power of 15.9 fW/Hz-1/2 and operation speeds up to GHz frequencies. It is based on van der Waals heterostructures of the high temperature superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, which are shaped into nano-wires with ultra-small form factor. To highlight the versatility of the detector we demonstrate its fabrication and operation on a telecom grade SiN waveguide chip. Our detector significantly relaxes the demands of practical applications of superconducting detectors and displays its huge potential for photonics based quantum applications.
Superconducting single photons detectors (SSPDs) have emerged in recent years as a promising alternative for fast and sensitive infrared detectors working in the photon counting mode. In particular, those detectors combine very low dark count rates (below 1 Hz), high speed (above 1 GHz), photon number resolution and reasonable quantum efficiency (10% at telecom wavelengths). They already found applications in quantum cryptography systems and integrated circuit failure analysis, but could also be used as ultimate sensors in matrix configurations. We show here the optimization of SSPD fabrication and their optical metrology at CEA. SSPD are fabricated by patterning a 80 nm wide nanowire in a very thin (4 nm) NbN film on sapphire, forming a pixel of several microns size. A cryogenic all-fibered optoelectronic system has been developed and allows precise metrology of the optical performances of SSPD. When biasing near the critical current of the nanowire, we demonstrate a detection quantum efficiency of 8% at 1.55 µm, which is also found to be strongly polarization dependent. This quantum efficiency being limited by optical absorption, we propose a prism coupling based absorption enhancing structure that allows reaching 100% quantum efficiency.
The combination of efficient single-photon generation, manipulation, and detection on a single chip poses a major challenge for quantum photonics and all-optical quantum computing. Among a multitude of detection technologies, waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors stand out as they promise near-unity detection efficiencies at outstanding timing accuracy and speed. Here, by exploiting the concept of critical coupling, we present the integration of a short nanowire into a two-dimensional double heterostructure photonic crystal cavity to realize an integrated single-photon detector with excellent performance metric. The complete detector characterization reveals on-chip detection efficiencies of almost 70% at telecom wavelengths, recovery times of 480 ps, and vanishingly low dark count rates. Our design paves the way for the implementation of compact on-chip detector arrays and time-multiplexed single-detector schemes.