Okunev, O., Smirnov, K., Chulkova, G., Korneev, A., Lipatov, A., Gol'tsman, G., et al. (2002). Ultrafast NBN hot-electron single-photon detectors for electronic applications. In Abstracts 8-th IUMRS-ICEM.
Abstract: We present a new, simple to manufacture, single-photon detector (SPD), which can work from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths of optical radiation and combines high speed of operation, high quantum efficiency (QE), and very low dark counts. The devices are superconducting and operate at temperature below 5 K. The physics of operation of our SPD is based on formation of a photon-induced resistive hotspot and subsequent appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-wide superconductor.
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Zhang, J., Verevkin, A., Slysz, W., Chulkova, G., Korneev, A., Lipatov, A., et al. (2017). Time-resolved characterization of NbN superconducting single-photon optical detectors. In J. C. Armitage (Ed.), Proc. SPIE (Vol. 10313, 103130F (1 to 3)). SPIE.
Abstract: NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) are very promising devices for their picosecond response time, high intrinsic quantum efficiency, and high signal-to-noise ratio within the radiation wavelength from ultraviolet to near infrared (0.4 gm to 3 gm) [1-3]. The single photon counting property of NbN SSPDs have been investigated thoroughly and a model of hotspot formation has been introduced to explain the physics of the photon- counting mechanism [4-6]. At high incident flux density (many-photon pulses), there are, of course, a large number of hotspots simultaneously formed in the superconducting stripe. If these hotspots overlap with each other across the width w of the stripe, a resistive barrier is formed instantly and a voltage signal can be generated. We assume here that the stripe thickness d is less than the electron diffusion length, so the hotspot region can be considered uniform. On the other hand, when the photon flux is so low that on average only one hotspot is formed across w at a given time, the formation of the resistive barrier will be realized only when the supercurrent at sidewalks surpasses the critical current (jr) of the superconducting stripe [1]. In the latter situation, the formation of the resistive barrier is associated with the phase-slip center (PSC) development. The effect of PSCs on the suppression of superconductivity in nanowires has been discussed very recently [8, 9] and is the subject of great interest.
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Verevkin, A., Zhang, J., Pearlman, A., Slysz, W., Sobolewski, R., Korneev, A., et al. (2004). Ultimate sensitivity of superconducting single-photon detectors in the visible to infrared range.
Abstract: We present our quantum efficiency (QE) and noise equivalent power (NEP) measurements of the meandertype ultrathin NbN superconducting single-photon detector in the visible to infrared radiation range. The nanostructured devices with 3.5-nm film thickness demonstrate QE up to~ 10% at 1.3–1.55 µm wavelength, and up to 20% in the entire visible range. The detectors are sensitive to infrared radiation with the wavelengths down to~ 10 µm. NEP of about 2× 10-18 W/Hz1/2 was obtained at 1.3 µm wavelength. Such high sensitivity together with GHz-range counting speed, make NbN photon counters very promising for efficient, ultrafast quantum communications and another applications. We discuss the origin of dark counts in our devices and their ultimate sensitivity in terms of the resistive fluctuations in our superconducting nanostructured devices.
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Korneev, A., Kouminov, P., Matvienko, V., Chulkova, G., Smirnov, K., Voronov, B., et al. (2004). Sensitivity and gigahertz counting performance of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors. Appl. Phys. Lett., 84(26), 5338–5340.
Abstract: We have measured the quantum efficiencysQEd, GHz counting rate, jitter, and noise-equivalentpowersNEPdof nanostructured NbN superconducting single-photon detectorssSSPDsdin thevisible to infrared radiation range. Our 3.5-nm-thick and 100- to 200-nm-wide meander-typedevices(total area 10310mm2), operating at 4.2 K, exhibit an experimental QE of up to 20% inthe visible range and,10% at 1.3 to 1.55mm wavelength and are potentially sensitive up tomidinfrareds,10mmdradiation. The SSPD counting rate was measured to be above 2 GHz withjitter,18 ps, independent of the wavelength. The devices’ NEP varies from,10−17W/Hz1/2for1.55mm photons to,10−20W/Hz1/2for visible radiation. Lowering the SSPD operatingtemperature to 2.3 K significantly enhanced its performance, by increasing the QE to,20% andlowering the NEP level to,3310−22W/Hz1/2, both measured at 1.26mm wavelength.
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Zhang, J., Boiadjieva, N., Chulkova, G., Deslandes, H., Gol'tsman, G. N., Korneev, A., et al. (2003). Noninvasive CMOS circuit testing with NbN superconducting single-photon detectors. Electron. Lett., 39(14), 1086–1088.
Abstract: The 3.5 nm thick-film, meander-structured NbN superconducting single-photon detectors have been implemented in the CMOS circuit-testing system based on the detection of near-infrared photon emission from switching transistors and have significantly improved the performance of the system. Photon emissions from both p- and n-MOS transistors have been observed.
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