Korneev, A. A., Korneeva, Y. P., Mikhailov, M. Y., Pershin, Y. P., Semenov, A. V., Vodolazov, D. Y., et al. (2015). Characterization of MoSi superconducting single-photon detectors in the magnetic field. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 25(3), 2200504 (1 to 4).
Abstract: We investigate the response mechanism of nanowire superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) made of amorphous MoxSi1-x. We study the dependence of photon count and dark count rates on bias current in magnetic fields up to 113 mT at 1.7 K temperature. The observed behavior of photon counts is similar to the one recently observed in NbN SSPDs. Our results show that the detecting mechanism of relatively high-energy photons does not involve the vortex penetration from the edges of the film, and on the contrary, the detecting mechanism of low-energy photons probably involves the vortex penetration from the film edges.
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Baeva, E. M., Sidorova, M. V., Korneev, A. A., Smirnov, K. V., Divochy, A. V., Morozov, P. V., et al. (2018). Thermal properties of NbN single-photon detectors. Phys. Rev. Applied, 10(6), 064063 (1 to 8).
Abstract: We investigate thermal properties of a NbN single-photon detector capable of unit internal detection efficiency. Using an independent calibration of the coupling losses, we determine the absolute optical power absorbed by the NbN film and, via resistive superconductor thermometry, the temperature dependence of the thermal resistance Z(T) of the NbN film. In principle, this approach permits simultaneous measurement of the electron-phonon and phonon-escape contributions to the energy relaxation, which in our case is ambiguous because of the similar temperature dependencies. We analyze Z(T) with a two-temperature model and impose an upper bound on the ratio of electron and phonon heat capacities in NbN, which is surprisingly close to a recent theoretical lower bound for the same quantity in similar devices.
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Gousev, Y. P., Semenov, A. D., Goghidze, I. G., Pechen, E. V., Varlashkin, A. V., Gol'tsman, G. N., et al. (1997). Current dependent noise in a YBa2Cu3O7-δ hot-electron bolometer. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 7(2), 3556–3559.
Abstract: We investigated the output noise of a YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) superconducting hot-electron bolometer (HEB) in a large frequency range (10 kHz to 8 GHz); the bolometer either consisted of a structured 50 nm thick YBCO film on LaAlO/sub 3/ or a 30 nm thick film on a MgO substrate. We found that flicker noise dominated at low frequencies (below 1 MHz), while at higher frequencies Johnson noise and a current dependent noise were the main noise sources.
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Heusinger, M. A., Nebosis, R. S., Schatz, W., Renk, K. F., Gol’tsman, G. N., Karasik, B. S., et al. (1993). Temperature dependence of bolometric and non-bolometric photoresponse of a structured YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin film. In M. Meissner, & R. O. Pohl (Eds.), Phonon Scattering in Condensed Matter VII. Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences (Vol. 112, pp. 193–195).
Abstract: We investigated the temperature dependence of the transient voltage photoresponse of a current biased structured YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin film in its transition temperature region, around 79 K. Both, picosecond nonbolometric and nanosecond bolometric response to ultrashort far-infrared laser pulses were found for frequencies between 25 cm−1 and 215 cm−1. We will discuss optimum conditions for radiation detection and present an analysis of the dynamical behaviour of excited high T c thin films.
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Semenov, A. D., Gol’tsman, G. N., Gogidze, I. G., Sergeev, A. V., Gershenzon, E. M., Lang, P. T., et al. (1992). Subnanosecond photoresponse of a YBaCuO thin film to infrared and visible radiation by quasiparticle induced suppression of superconductivity. Appl. Phys. Lett., 60(7), 903–905.
Abstract: We observed subnanosecond photoresponse of a structured superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin film to infrared and visible radiation. We measured the voltage response of a current biased film (thickness 700 Å) in a resistive state to radiation pulses. From our results we conclude a response time of about 90 ps and a responsivity of about 4×1010 Ω/J. We attribute the response to Cooper pair breaking and suppression of the superconducting energy gap induced by nonequilibrium quasiparticles.
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Murphy, A., Semenov, A., Korneev, A., Korneeva, Y., Gol’tsman, G., & Bezryadin, A. (2014). Dark counts initiated by macroscopic quantum tunneling in NbN superconducting photon detectors. arXiv:1410.7689v2 [cond-mat.supr-con].
Abstract: We perform measurements of the switching current distributions of three w = 120 nm wide, 4 nm thick NbN superconducting strips which are used for single-photon detectors. These strips are much wider than the diameter the vortex cores, so they are classified as quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D). We discover evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling by observing the saturation of the standard deviation of the switching distributions at temperatures around 2 K. We analyze our results using the Kurkijarvi-Garg model and find that the escape temperature also saturates at low temperatures, confirming that at sufficiently low temperatures, macroscopic quantum tunneling is possible in quasi-2D strips and can contribute to dark counts observed in single photon detectors.
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Murphy, A., Semenov, A., Korneev, A., Korneeva, Y., Gol'tsman, G., & Bezryadin, A. (2015). Three temperature regimes in superconducting photon detectors: quantum, thermal and multiple phase-slips as generators of dark counts. Sci. Rep., 5, 10174 (1 to 10).
Abstract: We perform measurements of the switching current distributions of three w approximately 120 nm wide, 4 nm thick NbN superconducting strips which are used for single-photon detectors. These strips are much wider than the diameter of the vortex cores, so they are classified as quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D). We discover evidence of macroscopic quantum tunneling by observing the saturation of the standard deviation of the switching distributions at temperatures around 2 K. We analyze our results using the Kurkijarvi-Garg model and find that the escape temperature also saturates at low temperatures, confirming that at sufficiently low temperatures, macroscopic quantum tunneling is possible in quasi-2D strips and can contribute to dark counts observed in single photon detectors. At the highest temperatures the system enters a multiple phase-slip regime. In this range single phase-slips are unable to produce dark counts and the fluctuations in the switching current are reduced.
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Korneeva, Y., Florya, I., Semenov, A., Korneev, A., & Goltsman, G. (2011). New generation of nanowire NbN superconducting single-photon detector for mid-infrared. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 21(3), 323–326.
Abstract: We present a break-through approach to mid-infrared single-photon detection based on nanowire NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD). Although SSPD became a mature technology for telecom wavelengths (1.3-1.55 μm) its further expansion to mid-infrared wavelength was hampered by low sensitivity above 2 μm. We managed to overcome this limit by reducing the nanowire width to 50 nm, while retaining high superconducting properties and connecting the wires in parallel to produce a voltage response of sufficient magnitude. The new device exhibits 10 times better quantum efficiency at 3.5 μm wavelength than the “standard” SSPD.
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Yagoubov, P. L., Hoogeveen, R. W. M., Maurellis, A. M., Mair, U., Krocka, M., Wagner, G., et al. (2003). TELIS — development of a new balloon borne THz/submm heterodyne limb sounder. In Proc. 14th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 204–214).
Abstract: We present a design concept for a new state-of-the-art balloon borne atmospheric monitor that will allow enhanced limb sounding of the Earth's atmosphere within the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength spectral range: TELIS, TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder. The instrument is being developed by a consortium of major European institutes that includes the Space Research Organisation of the Netherlands (SRON), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in the United Kingdom and the Deutschen Zentrum far Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Germany (lead institute). TELIS will utilise state-of-the-art superconducting heterodyne technology and is designed to be a compact, lightweight instrument capable of providing broad spectral coverage, high spectral resolution and long flight duration (-24 hours duration during a single flight campaign). The combination of high sensitivity and extensive flight duration will allow evaluation of the diurnal variation of key atmospheric constituents such as OH, HO,, C10, BrO together will longer lived constituents such as 0 3 , HCL and N 2 0. Furthermore, TELIS will share a common balloon platform to that of the MIPAS-B Fourier Transform Spectrometer, developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Climate research of the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. MIPAS-B will provide simultaneous and complementary spectral measurements over an extended spectral range. The combination of the TELIS and MIPAS instruments will provide atmospheric scientists with a very powerful observational tool. TELIS will serve as a testbed for new cryogenic heterodyne detection techniques, and as such it will act as a prelude to future spacebome instruments planned by the European Space Agency (ESA).
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Hoogeveen, R. W. M., Yagoubov, P. A., Maurellis, A., Koshelets, V. P., Shitov, S. V., Mair, U., et al. (2003). New cryogenic heterodyne techniques applied in TELIS: the balloonborne THz and submillimeter limb sounder for atmospheric research. In M. Strojnik (Ed.), Proc. SPIE (Vol. 5152, pp. 347–355). SPIE.
Abstract: We present a design concept for a new state-of-the-art balloon borne atmospheric monitor that will allow enhanced limb sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere within the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength spectral range: TELIS, TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder. The instrument is being developed by a consortium of major European institutes that includes the Space Research Organization of the Netherlands (SRON), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will utilize state-of-the-art superconducting heterodyne technology and is designed to be a compact, lightweight instrument cpaable of providing broad spectral coverage, high spectral resolution and long flight duration ( 24 hours duration during a single flight campaign). The combination of high sensitivity and extensive flight duration will allow evaluation of the diurnal variation of key atmospheric constitutenets sucyh as OH, HO2, ClO, BrO togehter will onger lived constituents such as O3, HCL and N2O. Furthermore, TELIS will share a common balloon platform to that of the MIPAS-B Fourier Transform Spectrometer, developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Climate research of the over an extended spectral range. The combination of the TELIS and MIPAS instruments will provide atmospheric scientists with a very powerful observational tool. TELIS will serve as a testbed for new cryogenic heterodyne detection techniques, and as such it will act as a prelude to future spaceborne instruments planned by the European Space Agency (ESA).
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Marksteiner, M., Divochiy, A., Sclafani, M., Haslinger, P., Ulbricht, H., Korneev, A., et al. (2009). A superconducting NbN detector for neutral nanoparticles. Nanotechnol., 20(45), 455501.
Abstract: We present a proof-of-principle study of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) for the detection of individual neutral molecules/nanoparticles at low energies. The new detector is applied to characterize a laser desorption source for biomolecules and allows retrieval of the arrival time distribution of a pulsed molecular beam containing the amino acid tryptophan, the polypeptide gramicidin as well as insulin, myoglobin and hemoglobin. We discuss the experimental evidence that the detector is actually sensitive to isolated neutral particles.
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Polyakova, M., Semenov, A. V., Kovalyuk, V., Ferrari, S., Pernice, W. H. P., & Gol'tsman, G. N. (2019). Protocol of measuring hot-spot correlation length for SNSPDs with near-unity detection efficiency. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 29(5), 1–5.
Abstract: We present a simple quantum detector tomography protocol, which allows, without ambiguities, to measure the two-spot detection efficiency and extract the hot-spot interaction length of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) with unity intrinsic detection efficiency. We identify a significant parasitic contribution to the measured two-spot efficiency, related to an effect of the bias circuit, and find a way to rule out this contribution during data post-processing and directly in the experiment. From the data analysis for waveguide-integrated SNSPD, we find signatures of the saturation of the two-spot efficiency and hot-spot interaction length of order of 100 nm.
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Semenov, A. D., & Gol'tsman, G. N. (1999). Non-thermal response of a diffusion-cooled hot-electron bolometer. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 9(2), 4491–4494.
Abstract: We present an analysis of a diffusion-cooled hot-electron bolometer in the limiting case of a weak thermalization of non-equilibrium quasiparticles. We propose a new model relying on the non-thermal suppression of the superconducting energy gap by excess quasiparticles. Using material parameters typical for Al, we evaluate performance of the bolometer in the heterodyne regime at terahertz frequencies. Estimates show that the mixer may have quantum limited noise temperature and a few tens of GHz bandwidth, while the required local oscillator power is in the /spl mu/W range due to in-effective suppression of the energy gap by quasiparticles with high energies.
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Semenov, A. D., & Gol’tsman, G. N. (2000). Nonthermal mixing mechanism in a diffusion-cooled hot-electron detector. J. Appl. Phys., 87(1), 502–510.
Abstract: We present an analysis of a diffusion-cooled hot-electron detector fabricated from clean superconducting material with low transition temperature. The distinctive feature of a clean material, i.e., material with large electron mean free path, is a relatively weak inelastic electron scattering that is not sufficient for the establishment of an elevated thermodynamic electron temperature when the detector is subjected to irradiation. We propose an athermal model of a diffusion-cooled detector that relies on suppression of the superconducting energy gap by the actual dynamic distribution of excess quasiparticles. The resistive state of the device is caused by the electric field penetrating into the superconducting bridge from metal contacts. The dependence of the penetration length on the energy gap delivers the detection mechanism. The sources of the electric noise are equilibrium fluctuations of the number of thermal quasiparticles and frequency dependent shot noise. Using material parameters typical for A1, we evaluate performance of the device in the heterodyne regime at terahertz frequencies. Estimates show that the mixer may have a noise temperature of a few quantum limits and a bandwidth of a few tens of GHz, while the required local oscillator power is in the μW range due to ineffective suppression of the energy gap by quasiparticles with high energies.
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Zolotov, P. I., Semenov, A. V., Divochiy, A. V., Goltsman, G. N., Romanov, N. R., & Klapwijk, T. M. (2021). Dependence of photon detection efficiency on normal-state sheet resistance in marginally superconducting films of NbN. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 31(5), 1–5.
Abstract: We present an extensive set of data on nanowire-type superconducting single-photon detectors based on niobium-nitride (NbN) to establish the empirical correlation between performance and the normal-state resistance per square. We focus, in particular, on the bias current, compared to the expected depairing current, needed to achieve a near-unity detection efficiency for photon detection. The data are discussed within the context of a model in which the photon energy triggers the movement of vortices i.e. superconducting dissipation, followed by thermal runaway. Since the model is based on the non-equilibrium theory for conventional superconductors deviations may occur, because the efficient regime is found when NbN acts as a marginal superconductor in which long-range phase coherence is frustrated.
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