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Słysz, W., Wegrzecki, M., Bar, J., Grabiec, P., Górska, M., Zwiller, V., et al. (2007). Fibre-coupled, single photon detector based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for quantum communications. J. Modern Opt., 54(2-3), 315–326.
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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Zwiller, V., Aichele, T., Seifert, W., Persson, J., & Benson, O. (2003). Generating visible single photons on demand with single InP quantum dots. Appl. Phys. Lett., 82(10), 1509–1511.
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Driessen, E. F. C., Braakman, F. R., Reiger, E. M., Dorenbos, S. N., Zwiller, V., & de Dood, M. J. A. (2009). Impedance model for the polarization-dependent optical absorption of superconducting single-photon detectors. Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys., 47, 10701.
Abstract: We measured the single-photon detection efficiency of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors as a function of the polarization state of the incident light for different wavelengths in the range from 488 nm to 1550 nm. The polarization contrast varies from ~% at 488 nm to~0% at 1550 nm, in good agreement with numerical calculations. We use an optical-impedance model to describe the absorption for polarization parallel to the wires of the detector. For the extremely lossy NbN material, the absorption can be kept constant by keeping the product of layer thickness and filling factor constant. As a consequence, the maximum possible absorption is independent of filling factor. By illuminating the detector through the substrate, an absorption efficiency of ~0% can be reached for a detector on Si or GaAs, without the need for an optical cavity.
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Dorenbos, S. N., Reiger, E. M., Perinetti, U., Zwiller, V., Zijlstra, T., & Klapwijk, T. M. (2008). Low noise superconducting single photon detectors on silicon. Appl. Phys. Lett., 93(13), 131101.
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Heeres, R. W., Dorenbos, S. N., Koene, B., Solomon, G. S., Kouwenhoven, L. P., & Zwiller, V. (2010). On-Chip Single Plasmon Detection. Nano Lett., 10, 661–664.
Abstract: Surface plasmon polaritons (plasmons) have the potential to interface electronic and optical devices. They could prove extremely useful for integrated quantum information processing. Here we demonstrate on-chip electrical detection of single plasmons propagating along gold waveguides. The plasmons are excited using the single-photon emission of an optically emitting quantum dot. After propagating for several micrometers, the plasmons are coupled to a superconducting detector in the near-field. Correlation measurements prove that single plasmons are being detected.
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