|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Ferrari, S.; Kovalyuk, V.; Vetter, A.; Lee, C.; Rockstuhl, C.; Semenov, A.; Gol'tsman, G.; Pernice, W.
Title Analysis of the detection response of waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors at high count rate Type Journal Article
Year 2019 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 115 Issue (up) 10 Pages 101104
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD, waveguide
Abstract Nanophotonic circuitry and superconducting nanowires have been successfully combined for detecting single photons, propagating in an integrated photonic circuit, with high efficiency and low noise and timing uncertainty. Waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) can nowadays be engineered to achieve subnanosecond recovery times and can potentially be adopted for applications requiring Gcps count rates. However, particular attention shall be paid to such an extreme count rate regime since artifacts in the detector functionality emerge. In particular, a count-rate dependent detection efficiency has been encountered that can compromise the accuracy of quantum detector tomography experiments. Here, we investigate the response of waveguide-integrated SNSPDs at high photon flux and identify the presence of parasitic currents due to the accumulation of charge in the readout electronics to cause the above-mentioned artifact in the detection efficiency. Our approach allows us to determine the maximum photon count rate at which the detector can be operated without adverse effects. Our findings are particularly important to avoid artifacts when applying SNSPDs for quantum tomography.

We acknowledge support through ERC Consolidator Grant No. 724707 and from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through Project No. PE 1832/5-1,2, as well as funding by the Volkswagen Foundation. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 675745. V.K. and G.G. acknowledge support from the Russian Science Foundation Project No. 16-12-00045 (NbN film deposition and testing). A.V. acknowledges support from the Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics (KSOP).
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1185
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vodolazov, D. Y.; Korneeva, Y. P.; Semenov, A. V.; Korneev, A. A.; Goltsman, G. N.
Title Vortex-assisted mechanism of photon counting in a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector revealed by external magnetic field Type Journal Article
Year 2015 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 92 Issue (up) 10 Pages 104503 (1 to 9)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We use an external magnetic field to probe the detection mechanism of a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. We argue that the hot belt model (which assumes partial suppression of the superconducting order parameter Δ across the whole width of the superconducting nanowire after absorption of the photon) does not explain observed weak-field dependence of the photon count rate (PCR) for photons with λ=450nm and noticeable decrease of PCR (with increasing the magnetic field) in a range of the currents for photons with wavelengths λ=450–1200nm. Found experimental results for all studied wavelengths can be explained by the vortex hot spot model (which assumes partial suppression of Δ in the area with size smaller than the width of the nanowire) if one takes into account nucleation and entrance of the vortices to the photon induced hot spot and their pinning by the hot spot with relatively large size and strongly suppressed Δ.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1098-0121 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1343
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lusche, R.; Semenov, A.; Korneeva, Y.; Trifonov, A.; Korneev, A.; Gol'tsman, G.; Hübers, H.-W.
Title Effect of magnetic field on the photon detection in thin superconducting meander structures Type Journal Article
Year 2014 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 89 Issue (up) 10 Pages 104513 (1 to 7)
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We have studied the influence of an externally applied magnetic field on the photon and dark count rates of meander-type niobium nitride superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. Measurements have been performed at a temperature of 4.2 K, and magnetic fields up to 250 mT have been applied perpendicularly to the meander plane. While photon count rates are field independent at weak applied fields, they show a strong dependence at fields starting from approximately ±25 mT. This behavior, as well as the magnetic field dependence of the dark count rates, is in good agreement with the recent theoretical model of vortex-assisted photon detection and spontaneous vortex crossing in narrow superconducting lines. However, the local reduction of the superconducting free energy due to photon absorption, which is the fitting parameter in the model, increases much slower with the photon energy than the model predicts. Furthermore, changes in the free-energy during photon counts and dark counts depend differently on the current that flows through the meander. This indicates that photon counts and dark counts occur in different parts of the meander.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1098-0121 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1367
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kerman, A. J.; Dauler, E. A.; Yang, J. K. W.; Rosfjord, K. M.; Anant, V.; Berggren, K. K.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.
Title Constriction-limited detection efficiency of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 90 Issue (up) 10 Pages 101110 (1 to 3)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We investigate the source of the large variations in the observed detection efficiencies of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors between many nominally identical devices. Through both electrical and optical measurements, we infer that these variations arise from “constrictions:” highly localized regions of the nanowires where the effective cross-sectional area for superconducting current is reduced. These constrictions limit the bias-current density to well below its critical value over the remainder of the wire, and thus prevent the detection efficiency from reaching the high values that occur in these devices when they are biased near the critical current density.

This work is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1433
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vetter, A.; Ferrari, S.; Rath, P.; Alaee, R.; Kahl, O.; Kovalyuk, V.; Diewald, S.; Goltsman, G. N.; Korneev, A.; Rockstuhl, C.; Pernice, W. H. P.
Title Cavity-enhanced and ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2016 Publication Nano Lett. Abbreviated Journal Nano Lett.
Volume 16 Issue (up) 11 Pages 7085-7092
Keywords SSPD; SNSPD; multiphoton detection; nanophotonic circuit; photonic crystal cavity
Abstract Ultrafast single-photon detectors with high efficiency are of utmost importance for many applications in the context of integrated quantum photonic circuits. Detectors based on superconductor nanowires attached to optical waveguides are particularly appealing for this purpose. However, their speed is limited because the required high absorption efficiency necessitates long nanowires deposited on top of the waveguide. This enhances the kinetic inductance and makes the detectors slow. Here, we solve this problem by aligning the nanowire, contrary to usual choice, perpendicular to the waveguide to realize devices with a length below 1 mum. By integrating the nanowire into a photonic crystal cavity, we recover high absorption efficiency, thus enhancing the detection efficiency by more than an order of magnitude. Our cavity enhanced superconducting nanowire detectors are fully embedded in silicon nanophotonic circuits and efficiently detect single photons at telecom wavelengths. The detectors possess subnanosecond decay ( approximately 120 ps) and recovery times ( approximately 510 ps) and thus show potential for GHz count rates at low timing jitter ( approximately 32 ps). The small absorption volume allows efficient threshold multiphoton detection.
Address Institute of Physics, University of Munster , 48149 Munster, Germany
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1530-6984 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:27759401 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1208
Permanent link to this record