Records |
Author |
Sobolewski, R.; Verevkin, A.; Gol'tsman, G.N.; Lipatov, A.; Wilsher, K. |
Title |
Ultrafast superconducting single-photon optical detectors and their applications |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
13 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
1151-1157 |
Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
Abstract |
We present a new class of ultrafast single-photon detectors for counting both visible and infrared photons. The detection mechanism is based on photon-induced hotspot formation, which forces the supercurrent redistribution and leads to the appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin, submicrometer-width, superconducting stripe. The devices were fabricated from 3.5-nm- and 10-nm-thick NbN films, patterned into <200-nm-wide stripes in the 4 /spl times/ 4-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ or 10 /spl times/ 10-/spl mu/m/sup 2/ meander-type geometry, and operated at 4.2 K, well below the NbN critical temperature (T/sub c/=10-11 K). Continuous-wave and pulsed-laser optical sources in the 400-nm-to 3500-nm-wavelength range were used to determine the detector performance in the photon-counting mode. Experimental quantum efficiency was found to exponentially depend on the photon wavelength, and for our best, 3.5-nm-thick, 100-/spl mu/m/sup 2/-area devices varied from >10% for 405-nm radiation to 3.5% for 1550-nm photons. The detector response time and jitter were /spl sim/100 ps and 35 ps, respectively, and were acquisition system limited. The dark counts were below 0.01 per second at optimal biasing. In terms of the counting rate, jitter, and dark counts, the NbN single-photon detectors significantly outperform their semiconductor counterparts. Already-identified applications for our devices range from noncontact testing of semiconductor CMOS VLSI circuits to free-space quantum cryptography and communications. |
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1051-8223 |
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509 |
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Semenov, A.; Engel, A.; Il'in, K.; Gol'tsman, G.; Siegel, M.; Hübers, H.-W. |
Title |
Ultimate performance of a superconducting quantum detector |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. |
Volume |
21 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
171-178 |
Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
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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1286-0042 |
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534 |
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Zhang, J.; Pearlman, A.; Slysz, W.; Verevkin, A.; Sobolewski, R.; Wilsher, K.; Lo, W.; Okunev, O.; Korneev, A.; Kouminov, P.; Chulkova, G.; Gol’tsman, G. N. |
Title |
A superconducting single-photon detector for CMOS IC probing |
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Conference Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Proc. 16-th LEOS |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 16-th LEOS |
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2 |
Issue |
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Pages |
602-603 |
Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
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In this paper, a novel, time-resolved, NbN-based, superconducting single-photon detector (SSPD) has been developed for probing CMOS integrated circuits (ICs) using photon emission timing analysis (PETA). |
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The 16th Annual Meeting of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, 2003. LEOS 2003. |
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1510 |
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Sobolewski, R.; Zhang, J.; Slysz, W.; Pearlman, A.; Verevkin, A.; Lipatov, A.; Okunev, O.; Chulkova, G.; Korneev, A.; Smirnov, K.; Kouminov, P.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Drakinsky, V.; Goltsman, G. N. |
Title |
Ultrafast superconducting single-photon optical detectors |
Type |
Conference Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
Volume |
5123 |
Issue |
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Pages |
1-11 |
Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
Abstract |
We present a new class of single-photon devices for counting of both visible and infrared photons. Our superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) are characterized by the intrinsic quantum efficiency (QE) reaching up to 100%, above 10 GHz counting rate, and negligible dark counts. The detection mechanism is based on the photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-wide superconducting stripe. The devices are fabricated from 3.5-nm-thick NbN films and operate at 4.2 K, well below the NbN superconducting transition temperature. Various continuous and pulsed laser sources in the wavelength range from 0.4 μm up to >3 μm were implemented in our experiments, enabling us to determine the detector QE in the photon-counting mode, response time, and jitter. For our best 3.5-nm-thick, 10×10 μm2-area devices, QE was found to reach almost 100% for any wavelength shorter than about 800 nm. For longer-wavelength (infrared) radiation, QE decreased exponentially with the photon wavelength increase. Time-resolved measurements of our SSPDs showed that the system-limited detector response pulse width was below 150 ps. The system jitter was measured to be 35 ps. In terms of the counting rate, jitter, and dark counts, the NbN SSPDs significantly outperform their semiconductor counterparts. Already identifeid and implemented applications of our devices range from noninvasive testing of semiconductor VLSI circuits to free-space quantum communications and quantum cryptography. |
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SPIE |
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Spigulis, J.; Teteris, J.; Ozolinsh, M.; Lusis, A. |
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Advanced Optical Devices, Technologies, and Medical Applications |
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1513 |
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Gol’tsman, G. N.; Smirnov, K.; Kouminov, P.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Drakinsky, V.; Zhang, J.; Verevkin, A.; Sobolewski, R. |
Title |
Fabrication of nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2003 |
Publication |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Abbreviated Journal |
IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. |
Volume |
13 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
192-195 |
Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
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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1558-2515 |
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1515 |
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