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Author Korneeva, Y.; Sidorova, M.; Semenov, A.; Krasnosvobodtsev, S.; Mitsen, K.; Korneev, A.; Chulkova, G.; Goltsman, G.
Title Comparison of hot-spot formation in NbC and NbN single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2016 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 26 Issue 3 Pages 1-4
Keywords NbC, NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We report an experimental investigation of the hot-spot evolution in superconducting single-photon detectors made of disordered superconducting materials with different diffusivity and energy downconversion time values, i.e., 33-nm-thick NbN and 23-nm-thick NbC films. We have demonstrated that, in NbC film, only 405-nm photons produce sufficiently large hot spot to trigger a single-photon response. The dependence of detection efficiency on bias current for 405-nm photons in NbC is similar to that for 3400-nm photons in NbN. In NbC, large diffusivity and downconversion time result in 1-D critical current suppression profile compared with the usual 2-D profile in NbN.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1348
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Author Murphy, A.; Semenov, A.; Korneev, A.; Korneeva, Y.; Gol’tsman, G.; Bezryadin, A.
Title Dark counts initiated by macroscopic quantum tunneling in NbN superconducting photon detectors Type Miscellaneous
Year 2014 Publication arXiv Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords NbN SSPD
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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Notes Approved no
Call Number murphy2014dark Serial 1356
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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 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.
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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
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Author Peltonen, J. T.; Astafiev, O. V.; Korneeva, Y. P.; Voronov, B. M.; Korneev, A. A.; Charaev, I. M.; Semenov, A. V.; Golt'sman, G. N.; Ioffe, L. B.; Klapwijk, T. M.; Tsai, J. S.
Title Coherent flux tunneling through NbN nanowires Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication Phys. Rev. B Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. B
Volume 88 Issue 22 Pages 220506 (1 to 5)
Keywords NbN nanowires
Abstract We demonstrate evidence of coherent magnetic flux tunneling through superconducting nanowires patterned in a thin highly disordered NbN film. The phenomenon is revealed as a superposition of flux states in a fully metallic superconducting loop with the nanowire acting as an effective tunnel barrier for the magnetic flux, and reproducibly observed in different wires. The flux superposition achieved in the fully metallic NbN rings proves the universality of the phenomenon previously reported for InOx. We perform microwave spectroscopy and study the tunneling amplitude as a function of the wire width, compare the experimental results with theories, and estimate the parameters for existing theoretical models.
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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 1369
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Author Lusche, R.; Semenov, A.; Il'in, K.; Korneeva, Y.; Trifonov, A.; Korneev, A.; Hubers, H.; Siegel, M.; Gol'tsman, G.
Title Effect of the wire width and magnetic field on the intrinsic detection efficiency of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
Year 2013 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.
Volume 23 Issue 3 Pages 2200205-2200205
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We present thorough measurements of the intrinsic detection efficiency in the wavelength range from 350 to 2500 nm for meander-type TaN and NbN superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with different widths of the nanowire. The width varied from 70 nm to 130 nm. The open-beam configuration allowed us to accurately normalize measured spectra and to extract the intrinsic detection efficiency. For detectors from both materials the intrinsic detection efficiency at short wavelengths amounts at 100% and gradually decreases at wavelengths larger than the specific cut-off wavelengths, which decreases with the width of the nanowire. Furthermore, we show that applying weak magnetic fields perpendicular to the meander plane decreases the smallest detectable photon flux.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1376
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Author Sclafani, M.; Marksteiner, M.; Keir, F. M. L.; Divochiy, A.; Korneev, A.; Semenov, A.; Gol'tsman, G.; Arndt, M.
Title Sensitivity of a superconducting nanowire detector for single ions at low energy Type Journal Article
Year 2012 Publication Nanotechnol. Abbreviated Journal Nanotechnol.
Volume 23 Issue 6 Pages 065501 (1 to 5)
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD, superconducting single ion detector, SSID, SNSID
Abstract We report on the characterization of a superconducting nanowire detector for ions at low kinetic energies. We measure the absolute single-particle detection efficiency eta and trace its increase with energy up to eta = 100%. We discuss the influence of noble gas adsorbates on the cryogenic surface and analyze their relevance for the detection of slow massive particles. We apply a recent model for the hot-spot formation to the incidence of atomic ions at energies between 0.2 and 1 keV. We suggest how the differences observed for photons and atoms or molecules can be related to the surface condition of the detector and we propose that the restoration of proper surface conditions may open a new avenue for SSPD-based optical spectroscopy on molecules and nanoparticles.
Address Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Corporate Author Thesis
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Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0957-4484 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes PMID:22248823 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1380
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Author Minaeva, O.; Divochiy, A.; Korneev, A.; Sergienko, A. V.; Goltsman, G. N.
Title High speed infrared photon counting with photon number resolving superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) Type Conference Article
Year 2009 Publication CLEO/Europe – EQEC Abbreviated Journal CLEO/Europe – EQEC
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract A review of development and characterization of the nanostructures consisting of several meander sections, all connected in parallel was presented. Such geometry leads to a significant decrease of the kinetic inductance, without a decrease of the SSPD active area. A new type of SSPDs possess the QE of large-active- area devices, but, simultaneously, allows achieving short response times and the GHz-counting rate. This new generation of superconducting detectors has another significant advantage for quantum key distribution, they have a photon number resolving capability and can distinguish more photons.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1399
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Author Jukna, A.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Pan, D.; Cross, A.; Perlman, A.; Komissarov, I.; Sobolewski, R.; Okunev, O.; Smirnov, K.; Korneev, A.; Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G.
Title Dynamics of hotspot formation in nanostructured superconducting stripes excited with single photons Type Journal Article
Year 2008 Publication Acta Physica Polonica A Abbreviated Journal Acta Physica Polonica A
Volume 113 Issue 3 Pages 955-958
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract Dynamics of a resistive hotspot formation by near-infrared-wavelength single photons in nanowire-type superconducting NbN stripes was investigated. Numerical simulations of ultrafast thermalization of photon-excited nonequilibrium quasiparticles, their multiplication and out-diffusion from a site of the photon absorption demonstrate that 1.55 μm wavelength photons create in an ultrathin, two-dimensional superconducting film a resistive hotspot with the diameter which depends on the photon energy, and the nanowire temperature and biasing conditions. Our hotspot model indicates that under the subcritical current bias of the 2D stripe, the electric field penetrates the superconductor at the hotspot boundary, leading to suppression of the stripe superconducting properties and accelerated development of a voltage transient across the stripe.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1414
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Author Słysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Górska, M.; Zwiller, V.; Latta, C.; Böhi, P.; Pearlman, A.J.; Cross, A.S.; Pan, D.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Komissarov, I.; Verevkin, A.; Milostnaya, I.; Korneev, A.; Minayeva, O.; Chulkova, G.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.N.; Sobolewski, R.
Title Fibre-coupled, single photon detector based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for quantum communications Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication J. Modern Opt. Abbreviated Journal J. Modern Opt.
Volume 54 Issue 2-3 Pages 315-326
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We present a novel, two-channel, single photon receiver based on two fibre-coupled, NbN, superconducting, single photon detectors (SSPDs). The SSPDs are nanostructured superconducting meanders and are known for ultrafast and efficient detection of visible-to-infrared photons. Coupling between the NbN detector and optical fibre was achieved using a micromechanical photoresist ring placed directly over the SSPD, holding the fibre in place. With this arrangement, we obtained coupling efficiencies up to ∼30%. Our experimental results showed that the best receiver had a near-infrared system quantum efficiency of 0.33% at 4.2 K. The quantum efficiency increased exponentially with the photon energy increase, reaching a few percent level for visible-light photons. The photoresponse pulses of our devices were limited by the meander high kinetic inductance and had the rise and fall times of approximately 250 ps and 5 ns, respectively. The receiver's timing jitter was in the 37 to 58 ps range, approximately 2 to 3 times larger than in our older free-space-coupled SSPDs. We stipulate that this timing jitter is in part due to optical fibre properties. Besides quantum communications, the two-detector arrangement should also find applications in quantum correlation experiments.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0950-0340 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1434
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Author Tarkhov, M.; Morozov, D.; Mauskopf, P.; Seleznev, V.; Korneev, A.; Kaurova, N.; Rubtsova, I.; Minaeva, O.; Voronov, B.; Goltsman, G.
Title Single photon counting detector for THz radioastronomy Type Conference Article
Year 2006 Publication Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol. Abbreviated Journal Proc. 17th Int. Symp. Space Terahertz Technol.
Volume Issue Pages 119-122
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract In this paper we present the results of the research on the superconducting NbN-ultrathin-film single- photon detectors (SSPD) which are capable to detect single quanta in middle IR range. The detection mechanism is based on the hotspot formation in quasi-two-dimensional superconducting structures upon photon absorption. Spectral measurements showed that up to 5.7 gm wavelength (52 THz) the SSPD exhibits single-photon sensitivity. Reduction of operation temperature to 1.6 K allowed us to measure quantum efficiency of -4% at 60 THz. Although further decrease of the operation temperature far below 1 K does not lead to any significant increase of quantum efficiency. We expect that the improvement of the SSPD's performance at reduced operation temperature will make SSPD a practical detector with high characteristics for much lower THz frequencies as well.
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Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1438
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Author Smirnov, K.; Korneev, A.; Minaeva, O.; Divochij, A.; Rubtsova, I.; Antipov, A.; Ryabchun, S.; Okunev, O.; Milostnaya, I.; Chulkova, G.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Seleznev, V.; Korotetskaya, Y.; Gol’tsman, G.
Title Superconducting single-photon detector for near- and middle IR wavelength range Type Conference Article
Year 2006 Publication Proc. 16th Int. Crimean Microwave and Telecommunication Technology Abbreviated Journal Proc. 16th Int. Crimean Microwave and Telecommunication Technology
Volume 2 Issue Pages 684-685
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract Presented in this paper are the results of research of NbN-film superconducting single-photon detector. At 2 K temperature, quantum efficiency in the visible light (0.56 mum) reaches 30-40 %. With the wavelength increase quantum efficiency decreases and comes to  20% at 1.55 mum and  0.02% at 5.6 mum. Minimum dark counts rate is 2times10-4s-1. The jitter of detector is 35 ps. The detector was successfully implemented for integrated circuits non-invasive optical testing. It is also perspective for quantum cryptography systems
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Language Russian Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1447
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Author Słysz, W.; Węgrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Górska, M.; Zwiller, V.; Latta, C.; Bohi, P.; Milostnaya, I.; Minaeva, O.; Antipov, A.; Okunev, O.; Korneev, A.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Gol’tsman, G.; Pearlman, A.; Cross, A.; Komissarov, I.; Verevkin, A.; Sobolewski, R.
Title Fiber-coupled single-photon detectors based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for practical quantum cryptography and photon-correlation studies Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.
Volume 88 Issue 26 Pages 261113 (1 to 3)
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We have fabricated and tested a two-channel single-photon detector system based on two fiber-coupled superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). Our best device reached the system quantum efficiency of 0.3% in the 1540-nm telecommunication wavelength with a fiber-to-detector coupling factor of about 30%. The photoresponse consisted of 2.5-ns-wide voltage pulses with a rise time of 250ps and timing jitter below 40ps. The overall system response time, measured as a second-order, photon cross-correlation function, was below 400ps. Our SSPDs operate at 4.2K inside a liquid-helium Dewar, but their optical fiber inputs and electrical outputs are at room temperature. Our two-channel detector system should find applications in practical quantum cryptography and in antibunching-type quantum correlation measurements.

The authors would like to thank Dr. Marc Currie for his assistance in early time-resolved photoresponse measurements and Professor Atac Imamoglu for his support. This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science under Project No. 3 T11B 052 26 (Warsaw), RFBR 03-02-17697 and INTAS 03-51-4145 grants (Moscow), CRDF Grant No. RE2-2531-MO-03 (Moscow), RE2-2529-MO-03 (Moscow and Rochester), and US AFOSR FA9550-04-1-0123 (Rochester). Additional funding was provided by the grants from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and BBN Technologies Corp.
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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 1449
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Author Milostnaya, I.; Korneev, A.; Rubtsova, I.; Seleznev, V.; Minaeva, O.; Chulkova, G.; Okunev, O.; Voronov, B.; Smirnov, K.; Gol'tsman, G.; Slysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Guziewicz, M.; Bar, J.; Gorska, M.; Pearlman, A.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Cross, A.; Sobolewski, R.
Title Superconducting single-photon detectors designed for operation at 1.55-µm telecommunication wavelength Type Conference Article
Year 2006 Publication J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. Abbreviated Journal J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.
Volume 43 Issue Pages 1334-1337
Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We report on our progress in development of superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), specifically designed for secure high-speed quantum communications. The SSPDs consist of NbN-based meander nanostructures and operate at liquid helium temperatures. In general, our devices are capable of GHz-rate photon counting in a spectral range from visible light to mid-infrared. The device jitter is 18 ps and dark counts can reach negligibly small levels. The quantum efficiency (QE) of our best SSPDs for visible-light photons approaches a saturation level of ~30-40%, which is limited by the NbN film absorption. For the infrared range (1.55µm), QE is ~6% at 4.2 K, but it can be significantly improved by reduction of the operation temperature to the 2-K level, when QE reaches ~20% for 1.55-µm photons. In order to further enhance the SSPD efficiency at the wavelength of 1.55 µm, we have integrated our detectors with optical cavities, aiming to increase the effective interaction of the photon with the superconducting meander and, therefore, increase the QE. A successful effort was made to fabricate an advanced SSPD structure with an optical microcavity optimized for absorption of 1.55 µm photons. The design consisted of a quarter-wave dielectric layer, combined with a metallic mirror. Early tests performed on relatively low-QE devices integrated with microcavities, showed that the QE value at the resonator maximum (1.55-µm wavelength) was of the factor 3-to-4 higher than that for a nonresonant SSPD. Independently, we have successfully coupled our SSPDs to single-mode optical fibers. The completed receivers, inserted into a liquid-helium transport dewar, reached ~1% system QE for 1.55 µm photons. The SSPD receivers that are fiber-coupled and, simultaneously, integrated with resonators are expected to be the ultimate photon counters for optical quantum communications.
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Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1742-6588 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1450
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Author Kitaygorsky, Jennifer; Komissarov, I.; Jukna, A.; Sobolewski, Roman; Minaeva, O.; Kaurova, N.; Korneev, A.; Voronov, B.; Milostnaya, I.; Gol'Tsman, Gregory
Title Nanosecond, transient resistive state in two-dimensional superconducting stripes Type Abstract
Year 2006 Publication Proc. APS March Meeting Abbreviated Journal Proc. APS March Meeting
Volume Issue Pages H38.13
Keywords NbN stripes
Abstract We have observed, nanosecond-in-duration, transient voltage pulses, generated across two-dimensional (2-D) NbN stripes (width: 100--500 nm; thickness: 3.5--10 nm) of various lengths (1--500 μm), when the wires were completely isolated from the outside world, biased at currents close to the critical current, and kept at temperatures below the mean-field critical temperature Tco. In 2-D superconducting films, at temperatures below the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, all vortices are bound and the resistance is zero. However, these vortices can get unbound when a large enough transport current is applied. The latter results in a transient resistive state, which manifests itself as spontaneous, 2.5--8-ns-long voltage pulses with the amplitude corresponding to the unbinding potential of a vortex pair. In our 100-nm-wide stripes, we have also observed the formation of phase slip centers (PSCs) at temperatures close to Tco, and a mixture of PSCs and unbound vortex-antivortex pairs at low temperatures.
Address Baltimore, MD
Corporate Author Thesis
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ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1454
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Author Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Korneev, A.; Minaeva, O.; Rubtsova, I.; Voronov, B.; Okunev, O.; Smirnov, K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Cross, A.; Pearlman, A.; Sobolewski, R.; Slysz, W.
Title Superconducting nanostructures for counting of single photons in the infrared range Type Conference Article
Year 2005 Publication Proc. 2-nd CAOL Abbreviated Journal Proc. 2-nd CAOL
Volume 2 Issue Pages 100-103
Keywords SSPD, SNSPD
Abstract We present our studies on ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on ultrathin NbN nanostructures. Our SSPDs are patterned by electron beam lithography from 4-nm thick NbN film into meander-shaped strips covering square area of 10/spl times/10 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. The advances in the fabrication technology allowed us to produce highly uniform 100-120-nm-wide strips with meander filling factor close to 0.6. The detectors exploit a combined detection mechanism, where upon a single-photon absorption, an avalanche of excited hot electrons and the biasing supercurrent, jointly produce a picosecond voltage transient response across the superconducting nanostrip. The SSPDs are typically operated at 4.2 K, but they have shown that their sensitivity in the infrared radiation range can be significantly improved by lowering the operating temperature from 4.2 K to 2 K. When operated at 2 K, the SSPD quantum efficiency (QE) for visible light photons reaches 30-40%, which is the saturation value limited by optical absorption of our 4-nm-thick NbN film. For 1.55 /spl mu/m photons, QE was /spl sim/20% and decreases exponentially with the increase of the optical wavelength, but even at the wavelength of 6 /spl mu/m the detector remains sensitive to single photons and exhibits QE of about 10/sup -2/%. The dark (false) count rate at 2 K is as low as 2 /spl times/ 10/sup -4/ s/sup -1/, what makes our detector essentially a background-limited sensor. The very low dark-count rate results in the noise equivalent power (NEP) as low as 10/sup -18/ WHz/sup -1/2/ for the mid-infrared range (6 /spl mu/m). Further improvement of the SSPD performance in the mid-infrared range can be obtained by substituting NbN for the other, lower-T/sub c/ superconductors with the narrow superconducting gap and low quasiparticle diffusivity. The use of such materials will shift the cutoff wavelength towards the values even longer than 6 /spl mu/m.
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Area Expedition Conference Second International Conference on Advanced Optoelectronics and Lasers
Notes Approved no
Call Number Serial 1461
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