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

Scientific Reports

Probing sub-nanosecond timing properties of micron-scale transition edge sensors via a parallel SQUID-semiconductor readout scheme

Yuki Mitsuya, Ryutaro Matsumoto, Mamoru Endo, Hiroyuki Takahashi

Published Sep 13, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract The transition edge sensor (TES) is known for its superior energy resolution and utilized in diverse physics experiments. TESs with micrometer dimensions have photon-number-resolving capabilities in infrared wavelengths, serving as a key device particularly for non-Gaussian quantum state generation in optical quantum information processing. Although theoretical timing limits for these devices are expected to be sub-nanosecond, such fast responses have remained unobserved with conventional superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) readouts alone. In this study, we probe the sub-nanosecond timing properties of a micron-scale TES under near-infrared laser irradiation via a proposed parallel SQUID-semiconductor readout scheme. In this scheme, the SQUID performs energy measurement, while the semiconductor readout, which is inductively decoupled from the SQUID, performs timing measurement. We employed a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) for the timing measurement. Under high-photon-number irradiation that drove the TES into its normal state, we achieved a timing jitter below 200 ps, compared with several nanoseconds for conventional readouts. Note that this value does not represent the single-photon timing jitter since it was obtained under high-photon-number irradiation; single-photon timing measurement remains a key objective for future study. The findings of this study will broaden the future applications of TESs in various fields requiring high timing resolution with energy-resolving capabilities.

DOI
10.1038/s41598-026-70471-z

Related papers

Calculation and Proposal for Improving the Timing Jitter of Transition-Edge Sensors

A. Kato, K. Hattori, Sachiko Takasu +2 more

Abstract In photonic quantum computing and quantum information processing, photon number resolution is crucial for generating highly non-classical quantum states. Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) are considered one of the most effective photon number-resolving detectors for this purpose. However, the current timing properties of TESs, such as timing jitter (a few ns) and recovery time (several hundred ns), are insufficient, limiting the operational speed of quantum applications. To address the potential for improving TES timing performance, we have proposed an improved calculation to derive TES timing jitter. Our calculations including the effect of the SQUID noise indicate that expanding the electrical bandwidth of the external voltage amplifier and optimizing the inductance to match that bandwidth, can significantly improve timing jitter. According to our model, timing jitter 1 ns FWHM is achievable with an input inductance of 0.35 nH and an electrical bandwidth of 1 GHz. Additionally, we have shown that with our TES and SQUID parameters, the lowest achievable timing jitter is approximately 0.71 ns FWHM. Achieving an even lower jitter would require a redesign aimed at further reducing the SQUID noise.

Journal of Low Temperature Physics•Jan 7, 2026•1 citation

Nanosecond-scale timing jitter for single photon detection in transition edge sensors

Antı́a Lamas-Linares, Brice Calkins, Nathan A. Tomlin +5 more

Transition edge sensors (TES) have the highest reported efficiencies (>98%) for single photon detection in the visible and near infrared. Experiments in quantum information and foundations of physics that rely on this efficiency have started incorporating these detectors. However, their range of applicability has been hindered by slow operation both in recovery time and timing jitter. We show how a conventional tungsten-TES can be operated with jitter times of ≈4 ns, providing a practical simplification for experiments that rely on simultaneous high efficiency and low timing uncertainty, such as loophole free Bell inequalities and device independent quantum cryptography.

Applied Physics Letters•Jun 10, 2013•48 citations

Nanosecond-scale timing jitter in transition edge sensors at telecom and visible wavelengths

Antı́a Lamas-Linares, Brice Calkins, Nathan A. Tomlin +5 more

Transition edge sensors (TES) have the highest reported efficiencies (>98%) for detection of single photons in the visible and near infrared. Experiments in quantum information and foundations of physics that rely critically on this efficiency have started incorporating these detectors into con- ventional quantum optics setups. However, their range of applicability has been hindered by slow operation both in recovery time and timing jitter. We show here how a conventional tungsten-TES can be operated with jitter times of < 4 ns, well within the timing resolution necessary for MHz clocking of experiments, and providing an important practical simplification for experiments that rely on the simultaneous closing of both efficiency and locality loopholes.

arXiv:1209.5721•Sep 25, 2012•12 citations

Photon number resolving detector with 0.3 μs recovering time

Daiji Fukuda, Akio Yoshizawa, Hidemi Tsuchida

Recently, photon number resolving detectors, which are based on micro-calorimeters with superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs) [1], have shown excellent performances such as high quantum efficiency of 89 %, and high energy resolution of 0.2 eV [2]. To extend their applications to quantum telecommunication fields, however, the detectors should have high timing properties of the low timing jitters and the fast recovering time. To achieve these properties, we have developed new TES detectors with a titanium-based superconductor. Titanium has the transition temperature (Tc) at 0.39 K in bulk. This will improve the timing properties of TES devices because the operating temperature at Tc is strongly related to the intrinsic time constant of the device and the thermal diffusions of the incident photon energy.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2007•0 citations

Titanium TES based photon number resolving detectors with 1 MHz counting rate and 65% quantum efficiency

Daiji Fukuda, Go Fujii, Takayuki Numata +4 more

A transition edge sensor (TES) is one of superconducting photon detectors, which has a photon number resolving ability in light pulses. The TES device is a kind of calorimeters operated at an extremely low temperature, and the energy of the photons is measured as a resistance change in a superconducting transition region of the TES. The advantages of the TESs are an excellent energy resolution and a high quantum efficiency. However a response speed is limited due to slow thermal recovery time. To overcome this, we fabricated new TES devices which are based on a titanium superconductor. The critical temperature of our titanium films is around 410 mK, which greatly improves the thermal recovery time. The observed decay time constant of response signals to the light pulses is around several hundreds of ns, that make it possible to operate the devices at a counting rate over 1 MHz. The photon number resolving power is 0.35 eV(FWHM) for a 5 μm size device even at the high operating temperature. The system quantum efficiency is 65 % by embedding the TES films in an optical structure with a high reflection dielectric mirror and an anti-reflection coatings fabricated by an ion beam assisted sputtering method. These features are very promising for high speed photon number resolving applications in the quantum information field.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Dec 2, 2008•11 citations

Single-photon light detection with transition-edge sensors

M. Rajteri, E. Taralli, Chiara Portesi +1 more

Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs) are microcalorimeters that measure the energy of incident single photons by the resistance increase of a superconducting film biased within the superconducting-to-normal transition. TES are able to detect single photons from IR to X-ray with an intrinsic energy resolution and photon-number discrimination capability. Metrology, astronomy and quantum \ncommunication are the fields where these properties can be particularly useful. In this work, we report about characterization of different TESs based on Ti films. Single photons have been detected from 200nm to 800 nm working at transition temperature Tc ∼ 100 mK. Using a pulsed laser at 690nm we have demonstrated the capability to resolve up to five photons.

NCimC•Jul 1, 2008•2 citations
Abstract The transition edge sensor (TES) is known for its superior energy resolution and utilized in diverse physics experiments. TESs with micrometer dimensions have photon-number-resolving capabilities in infrared wavelengths, serving as a key device particularly for non-Gaussian quantum state generation in optical quantum information processing. Although theoretical timing limits for these devices are expected to be sub-nanosecond, such fast responses have remained unobserved with conventional superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) readouts alone. In this study, we probe the sub-nanosecond timing properties of a micron-scale TES under near-infrared laser irradiation via a proposed parallel SQUID-semiconductor readout scheme. In this scheme, the SQUID performs energy measurement, while the semiconductor readout, which is inductively decoupled from the SQUID, performs timing measurement. We employed a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) for the timing measurement. Under high-photon-number irradiation that drove the TES into its normal state, we achieved a timing jitter below 200 ps, compared with several nanoseconds for conventional readouts. Note that this value does not represent the single-photon timing jitter since it was obtained under high-photon-number irradiation; single-photon timing measurement remains a key objective for future study. The findings of this study will broaden the future applications of TESs in various fields requiring high timing resolution with energy-resolving capabilities.
Abstract In photonic quantum computing and quantum information processing, photon number resolution is crucial for generating highly non-classical quantum states. Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) are considered one of the most effective photon number-resolving detectors for this purpose. However, the current timing properties of TESs, such as timing jitter (a few ns) and recovery time (several hundred ns), are insufficient, limiting the operational speed of quantum applications. To address the potential for improving TES timing performance, we have proposed an improved calculation to derive TES timing jitter. Our calculations including the effect of the SQUID noise indicate that expanding the electrical bandwidth of the external voltage amplifier and optimizing the inductance to match that bandwidth, can significantly improve timing jitter. According to our model, timing jitter 1 ns FWHM is achievable with an input inductance of 0.35 nH and an electrical bandwidth of 1 GHz. Additionally, we have shown that with our TES and SQUID parameters, the lowest achievable timing jitter is approximately 0.71 ns FWHM. Achieving an even lower jitter would require a redesign aimed at further reducing the SQUID noise.
Transition edge sensors (TES) have the highest reported efficiencies (>98%) for single photon detection in the visible and near infrared. Experiments in quantum information and foundations of physics that rely on this efficiency have started incorporating these detectors. However, their range of applicability has been hindered by slow operation both in recovery time and timing jitter. We show how a conventional tungsten-TES can be operated with jitter times of ≈4 ns, providing a practical simplification for experiments that rely on simultaneous high efficiency and low timing uncertainty, such as loophole free Bell inequalities and device independent quantum cryptography.
Transition edge sensors (TES) have the highest reported efficiencies (>98%) for detection of single photons in the visible and near infrared. Experiments in quantum information and foundations of physics that rely critically on this efficiency have started incorporating these detectors into con- ventional quantum optics setups. However, their range of applicability has been hindered by slow operation both in recovery time and timing jitter. We show here how a conventional tungsten-TES can be operated with jitter times of < 4 ns, well within the timing resolution necessary for MHz clocking of experiments, and providing an important practical simplification for experiments that rely on the simultaneous closing of both efficiency and locality loopholes.
Recently, photon number resolving detectors, which are based on micro-calorimeters with superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs) [1], have shown excellent performances such as high quantum efficiency of 89 %, and high energy resolution of 0.2 eV [2]. To extend their applications to quantum telecommunication fields, however, the detectors should have high timing properties of the low timing jitters and the fast recovering time. To achieve these properties, we have developed new TES detectors with a titanium-based superconductor. Titanium has the transition temperature (Tc) at 0.39 K in bulk. This will improve the timing properties of TES devices because the operating temperature at Tc is strongly related to the intrinsic time constant of the device and the thermal diffusions of the incident photon energy.
A transition edge sensor (TES) is one of superconducting photon detectors, which has a photon number resolving ability in light pulses. The TES device is a kind of calorimeters operated at an extremely low temperature, and the energy of the photons is measured as a resistance change in a superconducting transition region of the TES. The advantages of the TESs are an excellent energy resolution and a high quantum efficiency. However a response speed is limited due to slow thermal recovery time. To overcome this, we fabricated new TES devices which are based on a titanium superconductor. The critical temperature of our titanium films is around 410 mK, which greatly improves the thermal recovery time. The observed decay time constant of response signals to the light pulses is around several hundreds of ns, that make it possible to operate the devices at a counting rate over 1 MHz. The photon number resolving power is 0.35 eV(FWHM) for a 5 μm size device even at the high operating temperature. The system quantum efficiency is 65 % by embedding the TES films in an optical structure with a high reflection dielectric mirror and an anti-reflection coatings fabricated by an ion beam assisted sputtering method. These features are very promising for high speed photon number resolving applications in the quantum information field.
Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs) are microcalorimeters that measure the energy of incident single photons by the resistance increase of a superconducting film biased within the superconducting-to-normal transition. TES are able to detect single photons from IR to X-ray with an intrinsic energy resolution and photon-number discrimination capability. Metrology, astronomy and quantum \ncommunication are the fields where these properties can be particularly useful. In this work, we report about characterization of different TESs based on Ti films. Single photons have been detected from 200nm to 800 nm working at transition temperature Tc ∼ 100 mK. Using a pulsed laser at 690nm we have demonstrated the capability to resolve up to five photons.