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

Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition

Improving and Benchmarking Photon-Number-Resolving Capabilities of Superconducting Nanowire Detectors

Gregor Sauer, Mirco Kolarczik, Oskar Kohout, Rodrigo Gómez, Johanna Conrad, Fabian Steinlechner

Published Jan 1, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We show how ultra-high-resolution timing measurements of the rising and falling edges of electrical pulses generated from conventional superconducting nanowire detectors enable to distinguish photon numbers of up to 9 in a single-shot measurement.
DOI
10.1364/quantum.2024.qw3a.32

Related papers

Resolving Photon Numbers Using Ultra-High-Resolution Timing of a Single Conventional Superconducting Nanowire Detector

Gregor Sauer, Mirco Kolarczik, Rodrigo Gómez +2 more

We show how ultra-high-resolution timing measurements of the rising and falling edges of electrical pulses generated from conventional superconducting nanowire detectors enable to distinguish photon numbers of up to 5 in a single-shot measurement.

Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition•Jan 1, 2023•7 citations

Photon-Number Resolution in Conventional Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors: Theoretical Predictions

Kathryn L. Nicolich, Clinton Cahall, Nurul T. Islam +3 more

We demonstrate theoretically that a conventional single-pixel superconducting nanowire single-photon detector can resolve photon number by sensing changes in the rising edge of the electrical readout pulse.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Spatially Resolved Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector Rise-Time Analysis

Claire E. Marvinney, Brian Lerner, Alexander A. Puretzky +2 more

We explore spatial and photon-number resolution in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors through measurements of the rising edge of the readout pulse.

OSA Quantum 2.0 Conference•Jan 1, 2020•0 citations

Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector RiseTime Analysis

Claire E. Marvinney, Brian Lerner, Matthew A. Feldman +5 more

We explore the limits of spatial, spectral, and photon-number resolution in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors by characterizing the rising edge of a readout pulse with a low-noise high-bandwidth readout circuit.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2020•0 citations

Photon-Number Resolution in Conventional Superconducting Nanowire Single-photon Detectors: Experimental Demonstration

Clinton Cahall, Kathryn L. Nicolich, Nurul T. Islam +4 more

We present the first experimental evidence of photon number resolution in a conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The photon-number-dependent resistance reflected in the rise-time of output pulses is detected using a wideband, low-noise read-out circuit.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2018•1 citation

Photon-number-resolving superconducting nanowire detectors

F. Mattioli, Zili Zhou, Alessandro Gaggero +6 more

Abstract In recent years, photon-number-resolving (PNR) detectors have attracted great interest, mainly because they can play a key role in diverse application fields. A PNR detector with a large dynamic range would represent an ideal photon detector, bringing the linear response of conventional analogue detectors down to the single-photon level. Several technologies, such as InGaAs single photon avalanche detectors (SPADs), arrays of silicon photomultipliers, InGaAs SPADs with self-differencing circuits and transition edge sensors have shown photon number resolving capability. Superconducting nanowires provide free-running single-photon sensitivity from visible to mid-infrared frequencies, low dark counts, excellent timing resolution (<60 ps) and short dead time (∼10 ns), at an easily accessible temperature (2–3 K), but they do not inherently resolve the photon number. In this framework, PNR detectors based on arrays of superconducting nanowires have been proposed. In this article we describe a number of methods and device configurations that have been pursued to obtain PNR capability using superconducting nanowire detectors.

Superconductor Science and Technology•Aug 24, 2015•61 citations
Abstract In recent years, photon-number-resolving (PNR) detectors have attracted great interest, mainly because they can play a key role in diverse application fields. A PNR detector with a large dynamic range would represent an ideal photon detector, bringing the linear response of conventional analogue detectors down to the single-photon level. Several technologies, such as InGaAs single photon avalanche detectors (SPADs), arrays of silicon photomultipliers, InGaAs SPADs with self-differencing circuits and transition edge sensors have shown photon number resolving capability. Superconducting nanowires provide free-running single-photon sensitivity from visible to mid-infrared frequencies, low dark counts, excellent timing resolution (<60 ps) and short dead time (∼10 ns), at an easily accessible temperature (2–3 K), but they do not inherently resolve the photon number. In this framework, PNR detectors based on arrays of superconducting nanowires have been proposed. In this article we describe a number of methods and device configurations that have been pursued to obtain PNR capability using superconducting nanowire detectors.