Korneev, A., Matvienko, V., Minaeva, O., Milostnaya, I., Rubtsova, I., Chulkova, G., et al. (2005). Quantum efficiency and noise equivalent power of nanostructured, NbN, single-photon detectors in the wavelength range from visible to infrared. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 15(2), 571–574.
Abstract: We present our studies on the quantum efficiency (QE) and the noise equivalent power (NEP) of the latest-generation, nanostructured, superconducting, single-photon detectors (SSPDs) in the wavelength range from 0.5 to 5.6 /spl mu/m, operated at temperatures in the 2.0- to 4.2-K range. Our detectors are designed as 4-nm-thick and 100-nm-wide NbN meander-shaped stripes, patterned by electron-beam lithography and cover a 10/spl times/10-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ active area. The best-achieved QE at 2.0 K for 1.55-/spl mu/m photons is 17%, and QE for 1.3-/spl mu/m infrared photons reaches its saturation value of /spl sim/30%. The SSPD NEP at 2.0 K is as low as 5/spl times/10/sup -21/ W/Hz/sup -1/2/. Our nanostructured SSPDs, operated at 2.0 K, significantly outperform their semiconducting counterparts, and, together with their GHz counting rate and picosecond timing jitter, they are devices-of-choice for practical quantum key distribution systems and free-space (even interplanetary) quantum optical communications.
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Reiger, E., Pan, D., Slysz, W., Jukna, A., Sobolewski, R., Dorenbos, S., et al. (2007). Spectroscopy with nanostructured superconducting single photon detectors. IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron., 13(4), 934–943.
Abstract: Superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) are nanostructured devices made from ultrathin superconducting films. They are typically operated at liquid helium temperature and exhibit high detection efficiency, in combination with very low dark counts, fast response time, and extremely low timing jitter, within a broad wavelength range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared (up to 6 mu m). SSPDs are very attractive for applications such as fiber-based telecommunication, where single-photon sensitivity and high photon-counting rates are required. We review the current state-of-the-art in the SSPD research and development, and compare the SSPD performance to the best semiconducting avalanche photodiodes and other superconducting photon detectors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SSPDs can also be successfully implemented in photon-energy-resolving experiments. Our approach is based on the fact that the size of the hotspot, a nonsuperconducting region generated upon photon absorption, is linearly dependent on the photon energy. We introduce a statistical method, where, by measuring the SSPD system detection efficiency at different bias currents, we are able to resolve the wavelength of the incident photons with a resolution of 50 nm.
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Minaeva, O., Fraine, A., Korneev, A., Divochiy, A., Goltsman, G., & Sergienko, A. (2012). High resolution optical time-domain reflectometry using superconducting single-photon detectors. In Frontiers in Opt. 2012/Laser Sci. XXVIII (Fw3a.39). Optical Society of America.
Abstract: We discuss the advantages and limitations of single-photon optical time-domain reflectometry with superconducting single-photon detectors. The higher two-point resolution can be achieved due to superior timing performance of SSPDs in comparison with InGaAs APDs.
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Marsili, F., Bitauld, D., Divochiy, A., Gaggero, A., Leoni, R., Mattioli, F., et al. (2008). Superconducting nanowire photon number resolving detector at telecom wavelength. In CLEO/QELS (Qmj1 (1 to 2)). Optical Society of America.
Abstract: We demonstrate a photon-number-resolving (PNR) detector, based on parallel superconducting nanowires, capable of resolving up to 5 photons in the telecommunication wavelength range, with sensitivity and speed far exceeding existing approaches.
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Minaeva, O., Divochiy, A., Korneev, A., Sergienko, A. V., & Goltsman, G. N. (2009). High speed infrared photon counting with photon number resolving superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). In CLEO/Europe – EQEC.
Abstract: A review of development and characterization of the nanostructures consisting of several meander sections, all connected in parallel was presented. Such geometry leads to a significant decrease of the kinetic inductance, without a decrease of the SSPD active area. A new type of SSPDs possess the QE of large-active- area devices, but, simultaneously, allows achieving short response times and the GHz-counting rate. This new generation of superconducting detectors has another significant advantage for quantum key distribution, they have a photon number resolving capability and can distinguish more photons.
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