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Advanced Quantum Technologies

Scalable Approach For Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector Multi‐Pixel Arrays Using Electrical Multiplexing

Sandra Mennle, Philipp Karl, Harald W. Giessen

Published Jul 1, 2026• 1 citation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Highly sensitive detectors have become an indispensable part of today's research with applications in spectroscopy, data transmission, and quantum technologies. Featuring high efficiency superconducting nanowire single photon detector are state‐of‐the‐art for today's challenges. However, many applications such as biomedical and astronomical imaging, beam profiling, and spatially resolved photon statistics do not only require an individual highly sensitive photon detector, but rather an entire array of multiple detectors. This paper presents a novel approach for a 2D multi‐pixel array, consisting of electrically multiplexed superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. The scalable design features a 4‐layer fabrication scheme with optimized Chromium series resistors for best dynamic range. The presented approach hereby drastically reduces the number of required contacts from the standard contacts for detectors to only contacts. Our simulations confirm the working principle and prove the scalability up to kilo‐pixel arrays.

DOI: 10.1002/qute.70378

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