Korneev, A., Lipatov, A., Okunev, O., Chulkova, G., Smirnov, K., Gol’tsman, G., et al. (2003). GHz counting rate NbN single-photon detector for IR diagnostics of VLSI CMOS circuits. Microelectronic Engineering, 69(2-4), 274–278.
Abstract: We present a new, simple to manufacture superconducting single-photon detector operational in the range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared radiation wavelengths. The detector combines GHz counting rate, high quantum efficiency and very low level of dark (false) counts. At 1.3–1.5 μm wavelength range our detector exhibits a quantum efficiency of 5–10%. The detector photoresponse voltage pulse duration was measured to be about 150 ps with jitter of 35 ps and both of them were limited mostly by our measurement equipment. In terms of quantum efficiency, dark counts level, speed of operation the detector surpasses all semiconductor counterparts and was successfully applied for CMOS integrated circuits diagnostics.
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Bell, M., Kaurova, N., Divochiy, A., Gol'tsman, G., Bird, J., Sergeev, A., et al. (2007). On the nature of resistive transition in disordered superconducting nanowires. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 17(2), 267–270.
Abstract: Hot-electron single-photon counters based on long superconducting nanowires are starting to become popular in optical and infrared technologies due to their ultimately high sensitivity and very high response speed. We investigate intrinsic fluctuations in long NbN nanowires in the temperature range of 4.2 K-20 K, i.e. above and below the superconducting transition. These fluctuations are responsible for fluctuation resistivity and also determine the noise in practical devices. Measurements of the fluctuation resistivity were performed at low current densities and also in external magnetic fields up to 5 T. Above the BCS critical temperature T co the resistivity is well described by the Aslamazov-Larkin (AL) theory for two-dimensional samples. Below T co the measured resistivity is in excellent agreement with the Langer-Ambegaokar-McCumber-Halperin (LAMH) theory developed for one-dimensional superconductors. Despite that our nanowires of 100 nm width are two-dimensional with respect to the coherence length, our analysis shows that at relatively low current densities the one-dimensional LAMH mechanism based on thermally induced phase slip centers dominates over the two-dimensional mechanism related to unbinding of vortex-antivortex pairs below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.
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Gol'tsman, G., Minaeva, O., Korneev, A., Tarkhov, M., Rubtsova, I., Divochiy, A., et al. (2007). Middle-infrared to visible-light ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 17(2), 246–251.
Abstract: We present an overview of the state-of-the-art of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). Our devices exhibit quantum efficiency (QE) of up to 30% in near-infrared wavelength and 0.4% at 5 mum, with a dark-count rate that can be as low as 10 -4 s -1 . The SSPD structures integrated with lambda/4 microcavities achieve a QE of 60% at telecommunication, 1550-nm wavelength. We have also developed a new generation of SSPDs that possess the QE of large-active-area devices, but, simultaneously, are characterized by low kinetic inductance that allows achieving short response times and the GHz-counting rate with picosecond timing jitter. The improvements presented in the SSPD development, such as fiber-coupled SSPDs, make our detectors most attractive for high-speed quantum communications and quantum computing.
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Sych, D., Shcherbatenko, M., Elezov, M., & Goltsman, G. N. (2018). Towards the improvement of the heterodyne receiver sensitivity beyond the quantum noise limit. In Proc. 29th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 245–247).
Abstract: Noise reduction in heterodyne receivers of the terahertz range is an important issue for astronomical applications. Quantum fluctuations, also known as shot noise, prohibit errorless measurements of the amplitude of electro-magnetic waves, and introduce the so-called standard quantum limit (SQL) on the minimum error of the heterodyne measurements. Nowadays, the sensitivity of modern heterodyne receivers approaches the SQL, and the growing demand for the improvement of measurement precision stimulates a number of both theoretical and experimental efforts to design novel measurement techniques aimed at overcoming the SQL. Here we demonstrate the first steps towards the practical implementation of a sub-SQL quantum receiver. As the principal resources, it requires a highly efficient single-photon counting detector and an interferometer-based scheme for mixing the signal with a low-power local oscillator. We describe the idea of such receiver and its main components.
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Чулкова, Г. М., Семёнов, А. В., Тархов, М. А., Гольцман, Г. Н., Корнеев, А. А., & Смирнов, К. В. (2012). О возможности использования PNR-SNPD в системах телекоммуникационной связи. Преподаватель ХХI век, (2), 244–246.
Abstract: Рассмотрена возможность применения сверхпроводникового нанополоскового детектора, разрешающего число фотонов (Photon-Number Resolving Superconducting Nanowire Photon Detector, PNR-SNPD), в качестве датчика приёмных модулей телекоммуникационных линий. Оценена мощность оптического импульса, необходимая для достижения приемлемо низкой доли ошибочных битов.
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Ryabchun, S., Korneev, A., Matvienko, V., Smirnov, K., Kouminov, P., Seleznev, V., et al. (2004). Superconducting single photon detectors array based on hot electron phenomena. In Proc. 15th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. (pp. 242–247).
Abstract: In this paper we propose to use time domain multiplexing for large format arrays of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs) of the terahertz, visible and infrared frequency ranges based on ultrathin superconducting NbN films. Effective realization of time domain multiplexing for SSPD arrays is possible due to a short electric pulse of the SSPD as response to radiation quantum absorption, picosecond jitter and extremely low noise equivalent power (NEP). We present experimental results of testing 2×2 arrays in the infrared waveband. The measured noise equivalent power in the infrared and expected for the terahertz waveband is 10 – 21 WHz -1/2 . The best quantum efficiency (QE) of SSPD is 50% at 1.3 µm wavelength.
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Корнеева, Ю. П., Трифонов, А. В., Вахтомин, Ю. Б., Смирнов, К. В., Корнеев, А. А., Рябчун, С. А., et al. (2012). Расчет согласующего оптического резонатора для сверхпроводникового нанополоскового детектора. Преподаватель ХХI век, (3), 225–227.
Abstract: В статье произведен расчет резонатора, предназначенного для согласования сверхпроводникового нанополоскового однофотонного детектора с оптическим сигналом. Показано, что для детектора, выполненного из пленки с типичным сопротивлением квадрата 500 Ом и коэффициентом заполнения 0.5 коэффициент согласования с излучением, поляризованным параллельно полоскам детектора, достигает величины около 60%.
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Florya, I. N., Korneeva, Y. P., Mikhailov, M. Y., Devizenko, A. Y., Korneev, A. A., & Goltsman, G. N. (2018). Photon counting statistics of superconducting single-photon detectors made of a three-layer WSi film. Low Temp. Phys., 44(3), 221–225.
Abstract: Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPD) are used in quantum optics when record-breaking time resolution, high speed, and exceptionally low levels of dark counts (false readings) are required. Their detection efficiency is limited, however, by the absorption coefficient of the ultrathin superconducting film for the detected radiation. One possible way of increasing the detector absorption without limiting its broadband response is to make a detector in the form of several vertically stacked layers and connect them in parallel. For the first time we have studied single-photon detection in a multilayer structure consisting of three superconducting layers of amorphous tungsten silicide (WSi) separated by thin layers of amorphous silicon. Two operating modes of the detector are illustrated: an avalanche regime and an arm-trigger regime. A shift in these modes occurs at currents of ∼0.5–0.6 times the critical current of the detector.
This work was supported by technical task No. 88 for scientific research at the National Research University “Higher School of Economics,” Grant No. 14.V25.31.0007 from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, and the work of G. N. Goltsman was supported by task No. 3.7328.2017/VU of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
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Semenov, A. D., Hübers, H. - W., Gol’tsman, G. N., & Smirnov, K. (2002). Superconducting quantum detector for astronomy and X-ray spectroscopy. In J. Pekola, B. Ruggiero, & P. Silvestrini (Eds.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Supercond. Nano-Electronics Devices (pp. 201–210). Boston, MA: Springer.
Abstract: We propose the novel concept of ultra-sensitive energy-dispersive superconducting quantum detectors prospective for applications in astronomy and X-ray spectroscopy. Depending on the superconducting material and operation conditions, such detector may allow realizing background limited noise equivalent power 10−21 W Hz−1/2 in the terahertz range when exposed to 4-K background radiation or counting of 6-keV photon with almost 10—4 energy resolution. Planar layout and relatively simple technology favor integration of elementary detectors into a detector array.
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Gol’tsman, G. N., Smirnov, K., Kouminov, P., Voronov, B., Kaurova, N., Drakinsky, V., et al. (2003). Fabrication of nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 192–195.
Abstract: Fabrication of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors, based on the hotspot effect is presented. The hotspot formation arises in an ultrathin and submicrometer-width superconductor stripe and, together with the supercurrent redistribution, leads to the resistive detector response upon absorption of a photon. The detector has a meander structure to maximally increase its active area and reach the highest detection efficiency. Main processing steps, leading to efficient devices, sensitive in 0.4-5 /spl mu/m wavelength range, are presented. The impact of various processing steps on the performance and operational parameters of our detectors is discussed.
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Zhang, J., Slysz, W., Verevkin, A., Okunev, O., Chulkova, G., Korneev, A., et al. (2003). Response time characterization of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 180–183.
Abstract: We report our time-resolved measurements of NbN-based superconducting single-photon detectors. The structures are meander-type, 10-nm thick, and 200-nm wide stripes and were operated at 4.2 K. We have shown that the NbN devices can count single-photon pulses with below 100-ps time resolution. The response signal pulse width was about 150 ps, and the system jitter was measured to be 35 ps.
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Semenov, A., Engel, A., Il'in, K., Gol'tsman, G., Siegel, M., & Hübers, H. - W. (2003). Ultimate performance of a superconducting quantum detector. Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys., 21(3), 171–178.
Abstract: We analyze the ultimate performance of a superconducting quantum detector in order to meet requirements for applications in near-infrared astronomy and X-ray spectroscopy. The detector exploits a combined detection mechanism, in which avalanche quasiparticle multiplication and the supercurrent jointly produce a voltage response to a single absorbed photon via successive formation of a photon-induced and a current-induced normal hotspot in a narrow superconducting strip. The response time of the detector should increase with the photon energy providing energy resolution. Depending on the superconducting material and operation conditions, the cut-off wavelength for the single-photon detection regime varies from infrared waves to visible light. We simulated the performance of the background-limited infrared direct detector and X-ray photon counter utilizing the above mechanism. Low dark count rate and intrinsic low-frequency cut-off allow for realizing a background limited noise equivalent power of 10−20 W Hz−1/2 for a far-infrared direct detector exposed to 4-K background radiation. At low temperatures, the intrinsic response time of the counter is rather determined by diffusion of nonequilibrium electrons than by the rate of energy transfer to phonons. Therefore, thermal fluctuations do not hamper energy resolution of the X-ray photon counter that should be better than 10−3 for 6-keV photons. Comparison of new data obtained with a Nb based detector and previously reported results on NbN quantum detectors support our estimates of ultimate detector performance.
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Glejm, A. V., Anisimov, A. A., Asnis, L. N., Vakhtomin, Y. B., Divochiy, A. V., Egorov, V. I., et al. (2014). Quantum key distribution in an optical fiber at distances of up to 200 km and a bit rate of 180 bit/s. Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Physics, 78(3), 171–175.
Abstract: An experimental demonstration of a subcarrier-wave quantum cryptography system with superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) that distributes a secure key in a single-mode fiber at distance of 25 km with a bit rate of 800 kbit/s, a distance of 100 km with a bit rate of 19 kbit/s, and a distance of 200 km with a bit rate of 0.18 kbit/s is described.
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Sáysz, W., Guziewicz, M., Bar, J., Wegrzecki, M., Grabiec, P., Grodecki, R., et al. (2008). Superconducting NbN nanostructures for single photon quantum detectors. In Proc. 7-th Int. Conf. Ion Implantation and Other Applications of Ions and Electrons (160).
Abstract: Practical quantum systems such as quantum communication (QC) or quantum measurement systems require detectors with high speed, high sensitivity, high quantum efficiency (QE), and short deadtimes along with precise timing characteristics and low dark counts. Superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs) based on ultrathin meander type NbN nanostripes (operated at T=2-5K) are a new and highly promising type of devices fulfilling above requirements. In this paper we present results of the SSPDs nanostructure technological optimization. The base for our detector is thin-film (4nm) NbN layer deposited on 350- P m-thick sapphire substrate The active element of the detector is a meander- nanostructure made of 4-nm-thick and 100-nm-wide NbN stripe, covering 10 u 10 P m 2 area with the filling factor ~0,5. The NbN superconducting films were deposited on sapphire substrates by DC reactive magnetron sputtering whereas the meander element of the detector was patterned by the direct electron-beam lithography followed by reactive-ion etching. To enhance the SSPD efficiency at Ȝ = 1.55 P m, we have performed an approach to increase the absorption of the detector by integrating it with optical resonant cavity. An optical microcavity optimized for absorption of 1.55 P m photons was designed as an one-mirror resonator consisting of a Ȝ/4 dielectric layer and a metallic mirror. The microcavity was deposited on the top of the NbN SSPD meander. The resonator was formed by the dielectric SiO 2 layer and metal mirror made of gold or palladium. Microcavity layers were deposited using a magnetron sputtering system.
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Verevkin, A. A., Pearlman, A., Slysz, W., Zhang, J., Sobolewski, R., Chulkova, G., et al. (2003). Ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors for infrared wavelength quantum communications. In E. Donkor, A. R. Pirich, & H. E. Brandt (Eds.), Proc. SPIE (Vol. 5105, pp. 160–170). SPIE.
Abstract: We have developed a new class of superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) for ultrafast counting of infrared (IR) photons for secure quantum communications. The devices are operated on the quantum detection mechanism, based on the photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-wide superconducting stripe. The detectors are fabricated from 3.5-nm-thick NbN films and they operate at 4.2 K inside a closed-cycle refrigerator or liquid helium cryostat. Various continuous and pulsed laser sources have been used in our experiments, enabling us to determine the detector experimental quantum efficiency (QE) in the photon-counting mode, response time, time jitter, and dark counts. Our 3.5-nm-thick SSPDs reached QE above 15% for visible light photons and 5% at 1.3 – 1.5 μm infrared range. The measured real-time counting rate was above 2 GHz and was limited by the read-out electronics (intrinsic response time is <30 ps). The measured jitter was <18 ps, and the dark counting rate was <0.01 per second. The measured noise equivalent power (NEP) is 2 x 10-18 W/Hz1/2 at λ = 1.3 μm. In near-infrared range, in terms of the counting rate, jitter, dark counts, and overall sensitivity, the NbN SSPDs significantly outperform their semiconductor counterparts. An ultrafast quantum cryptography communication technology based on SSPDs is proposed and discussed.
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