McCarthy, A., Krichel, N. J., Gemmell, N. R., Ren, X., Tanner, M. G., Dorenbos, S. N., et al. (2013). Kilometer-range, high resolution depth imaging via 1560 nm wavelength single-photon detection. Opt. Express, 21(7), 8904–8915.
Abstract: This paper highlights a significant advance in time-of-flight depth imaging: by using a scanning transceiver which incorporated a free-running, low noise superconducting nanowire single-photon detector, we were able to obtain centimeter resolution depth images of low-signature objects in daylight at stand-off distances of the order of one kilometer at the relatively eye-safe wavelength of 1560 nm. The detector used had an efficiency of 18% at 1 kHz dark count rate, and the overall system jitter was ~100 ps. The depth images were acquired by illuminating the scene with an optical output power level of less than 250 µW average, and using per-pixel dwell times in the millisecond regime.
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Shcherbatenko, M., Lobanov, Y., Semenov, A., Kovalyuk, V., Korneev, A., Ozhegov, R., et al. (2016). Potential of a superconducting photon counter for heterodyne detection at the telecommunication wavelength. Opt. Express, 24(26), 30474–30484.
Abstract: Here, we report on the successful operation of a NbN thin film superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) in a coherent mode (as a mixer) at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm. Providing the local oscillator power of the order of a few picowatts, we were practically able to reach the quantum noise limited sensitivity. The intermediate frequency gain bandwidth (also referred to as response or conversion bandwidth) was limited by the spectral band of a single-photon response pulse of the detector, which is proportional to the detector size. We observed a gain bandwidth of 65 MHz and 140 MHz for 7 x 7 microm2 and 3 x 3 microm2 devices, respectively. A tiny amount of the required local oscillator power and wide gain and noise bandwidths, along with unnecessary low noise amplification, make this technology prominent for various applications, with the possibility for future development of a photon counting heterodyne-born large-scale array.
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Elezov, M., Ozhegov, R., Goltsman, G., & Makarov, V. (2019). Countermeasure against bright-light attack on superconducting nanowire single-photon detector in quantum key distribution. Opt. Express, 27(21), 30979–30988.
Abstract: We present an active anti-latching system for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. We experimentally test it against a bright-light attack, previously used to compromise security of quantum key distribution. Although our system detects continuous blinding, the detector is shown to be partially blindable and controllable by specially tailored sequences of bright pulses. Improvements to the countermeasure are suggested.
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Mohan, N., Minaeva, O., Gol'tsman, G. N., Nasr, M. B., Saleh, B. E., Sergienko, A. V., et al. (2008). Photon-counting optical coherence-domain reflectometry using superconducting single-photon detectors. Opt. Express, 16(22), 18118–18130.
Abstract: We consider the use of single-photon counting detectors in coherence-domain imaging. Detectors operated in this mode exhibit reduced noise, which leads to increased sensitivity for weak light sources and weakly reflecting samples. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the possibility of using superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) for optical coherence-domain reflectometry (OCDR). These detectors are sensitive over the full spectral range that is useful for carrying out such imaging in biological samples. With counting rates as high as 100 MHz, SSPDs also offer a high rate of data acquisition if the light flux is sufficient.
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Nasr, M. B., Minaeva, O., Goltsman, G. N., Sergienko, A. V., Saleh, B. E., & Teich, M. C. (2008). Submicron axial resolution in an ultrabroadband two-photon interferometer using superconducting single-photon detectors. Opt. Express, 16(19), 15104–15108.
Abstract: We generate ultrabroadband biphotons via the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a quasi-phase-matched nonlinear grating that has a linearly chirped poling period. Using these biphotons in conjunction with superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), we measure the narrowest Hong-Ou-Mandel dip to date in a two-photon interferometer, having a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of approximately 5.7 fsec. This FWHM corresponds to a quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) axial resolution of 0.85 µm. Our results indicate that a high flux of nonoverlapping biphotons may be generated, as required in many applications of nonclassical light.
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Hu, X., Zhong, T., White, J. E., Dauler, E. A. N., Faraz, Herder, C. H., Wong, F. N. C., et al. (2009). Fiber-coupled nanowire photon counter at 1550 nm with 24% system detection efficiency. Opt. Lett., 34(23), 3607–3609.
Abstract: We developed a fiber-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detector system in a close-cycled cryocooler and achieved 24% and 22% system detection efficiencies at wavelengths of 1550 and 1315 nm, respectively. The maximum dark count rate was ~1000 counts/s.
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Morozov, P., Lukina, M., Shirmanova, M., Divochiy, A., Dudenkova, V., Gol'tsman, G. N., et al. (2021). Singlet oxygen phosphorescence imaging by superconducting single-photon detector and time-correlated single-photon counting. Opt. Lett., 46(6), 1217–1220.
Abstract: This Letter presents, to the best of our knowledge, a novel optical configuration for direct time-resolved measurements of luminescence from singlet oxygen, both in solutions and from cultured cells on photodynamic therapy. The system is based on the superconducting single-photon detector, coupled to the confocal scanner that is modified for the near-infrared measurements. The recording of a phosphorescence signal from singlet oxygen at 1270 nm has been done using time-correlated single-photon counting. The performance of the system is verified by measuring phosphorescence from singlet oxygen generated by the photosensitizers commonly used in photodynamic therapy: methylene blue and chlorin e6. The described system can be easily upgraded to the configuration when both phosphorescence from singlet oxygen and fluorescence from the cells can be detected in the imaging mode. Thus, co-localization of the signal from singlet oxygen with the areas inside the cells can be done.
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Vorobyov, V. V., Kazakov, A. Y., Soshenko, V. V., Korneev, A. A., Shalaginov, M. Y., Bolshedvorskii, S. V., et al. (2017). Superconducting detector for visible and near-infrared quantum emitters [Invited]. Opt. Mater. Express, 7(2), 513–526.
Abstract: Further development of quantum emitter based communication and sensing applications intrinsically depends on the availability of robust single-photon detectors. Here, we demonstrate a new generation of superconducting single-photon detectors specifically optimized for the 500–1100 nm wavelength range, which overlaps with the emission spectrum of many interesting solid-state atom-like systems, such as nitrogen-vacancy and silicon-vacancy centers in diamond. The fabricated detectors have a wide dynamic range (up to 350 million counts per second), low dark count rate (down to 0.1 counts per second), excellent jitter (62 ps), and the possibility of on-chip integration with a quantum emitter. In addition to performance characterization, we tested the detectors in real experimental conditions involving nanodiamond nitrogen-vacancy emitters enhanced by a hyperbolic metamaterial.
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Korneev, A., Korneeva, Y., Florya, I., Voronov, B., & Goltsman, G. (2012). NbN nanowire superconducting single-photon detector for mid-infrared. Phys. Procedia, 36, 72–76.
Abstract: Superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD) is typically 100 nm-wide supercondiucting strip in a shape of meander made of 4-nm-thick film. To reduce response time and increase voltage response a parallel connection of the strips was proposed. Recently we demonstrated that reduction of the strip width improves the quantum effciency of such a detector at wavelengths longer than 1.5 μm. Being encourage by this progress in quantum effciency we improved the fabrication process and made parallel-wire SSPD with 40-nm-wide strips covering total area of 10 μm x 10 μm. In this paper we present the results of the characterization of such a parallel-wire SSPD at 10.6 μm wavelength and demonstrate linear dependence of the count rate on the light power as it should be in case of single-photon response.
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Shcherbatenko, M. L., Elezov, M. S., Goltsman, G. N., & Sych, D. V. (2020). Sub-shot-noise-limited fiber-optic quantum receiver. Phys. Rev. A, 101(3), 032306 (1 to 5).
Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate a quantum receiver based on the Kennedy scheme for discrimination between two phase-modulated weak coherent states. The receiver is assembled entirely from standard fiber-optic elements and operates at a conventional telecom wavelength of 1.55 μm. The local oscillator and the signal are transmitted through different optical fibers, and the displaced signal is measured with a high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. We show the discrimination error rate is two times below that of a shot-noise-limited receiver with the same system detection efficiency.
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