Korneev, A., Vachtomin, Y., Minaeva, O., Divochiy, A., Smirnov, K., Okunev, O., et al. (2007). Single-photon detection system for quantum optics applications. IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron., 13(4), 944–951.
Abstract: We describe the design and characterization of a fiber-coupled double-channel single-photon detection system based on superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD), and its application for quantum optics experiments on semiconductor nanostructures. When operated at 2-K temperature, the system shows 10% quantum efficiency at 1.3-¿m wavelength with dark count rate below 10 counts per second and timing resolution <100 ps. The short recovery time and absence of afterpulsing leads to counting frequencies as high as 40 MHz. Moreover, the low dark count rate allows operation in continuous mode (without gating). These characteristics are very attractive-as compared to InGaAs avalanche photodiodes-for quantum optics experiments at telecommunication wavelengths. We demonstrate the use of the system in time-correlated fluorescence spectroscopy of quantum wells and in the measurement of the intensity correlation function of light emitted by semiconductor quantum dots at 1300 nm.
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Reiger, E., Pan, D., Slysz, W., Jukna, A., Sobolewski, R., Dorenbos, S., et al. (2007). Spectroscopy with nanostructured superconducting single photon detectors. IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron., 13(4), 934–943.
Abstract: Superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) are nanostructured devices made from ultrathin superconducting films. They are typically operated at liquid helium temperature and exhibit high detection efficiency, in combination with very low dark counts, fast response time, and extremely low timing jitter, within a broad wavelength range from ultraviolet to mid-infrared (up to 6 mu m). SSPDs are very attractive for applications such as fiber-based telecommunication, where single-photon sensitivity and high photon-counting rates are required. We review the current state-of-the-art in the SSPD research and development, and compare the SSPD performance to the best semiconducting avalanche photodiodes and other superconducting photon detectors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SSPDs can also be successfully implemented in photon-energy-resolving experiments. Our approach is based on the fact that the size of the hotspot, a nonsuperconducting region generated upon photon absorption, is linearly dependent on the photon energy. We introduce a statistical method, where, by measuring the SSPD system detection efficiency at different bias currents, we are able to resolve the wavelength of the incident photons with a resolution of 50 nm.
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Wiechers, C., Lydersen, L., Wittmann, C., Elser, D., Skaar, J., Marquardt, C., et al. (2011). After-gate attack on a quantum cryptosystem. New J. Phys., 13(1), 14.
Abstract: We present a method to control the detection events in quantum key distribution systems that use gated single-photon detectors. We employ bright pulses as faked states, timed to arrive at the avalanche photodiodes outside the activation time. The attack can remain unnoticed, since the faked states do not increase the error rate per se. This allows for an intercept-resend attack, where an eavesdropper transfers her detection events to the legitimate receiver without causing any errors. As a side effect, afterpulses, originating from accumulated charge carriers in the detectors, increase the error rate. We have experimentally tested detectors of the system id3110 (Clavis2) from ID Quantique. We identify the parameter regime in which the attack is feasible despite the side effect. Furthermore, we outline how simple modifications in the implementation can make the device immune to this attack.
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Zhang, J., Slysz, W., Verevkin, A., Okunev, O., Chulkova, G., Korneev, A., et al. (2003). Response time characterization of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 180–183.
Abstract: We report our time-resolved measurements of NbN-based superconducting single-photon detectors. The structures are meander-type, 10-nm thick, and 200-nm wide stripes and were operated at 4.2 K. We have shown that the NbN devices can count single-photon pulses with below 100-ps time resolution. The response signal pulse width was about 150 ps, and the system jitter was measured to be 35 ps.
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Gol’tsman, G. N., Smirnov, K., Kouminov, P., Voronov, B., Kaurova, N., Drakinsky, V., et al. (2003). Fabrication of nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors. IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., 13(2), 192–195.
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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Korneeva, Y. P., Manova, N. N., Florya, I. N., Mikhailov, M. Y., Dobrovolskiy, O. V., Korneev, A. A., et al. (2020). Different single-photon response of wide and narrow superconducting MoxSi1−x strips. Phys. Rev. Applied, 13(2), 024011 (1 to 7).
Abstract: The photon count rate (PCR) of superconducting single-photon detectors made of MoxSi1−x films shaped as a 2-μm-wide strip and a 115-nm-wide meander strip line is studied experimentally as a function of the dc biasing current at different values of the perpendicular magnetic field. For the wide strip, a crossover current Icross is observed, below which the PCR increases with an increasing magnetic field and above which it decreases. This behavior contrasts with the narrow MoxSi1−x meander, for which no crossover current is observed, thus suggesting different photon-detection mechanisms in the wide and narrow strips. Namely, we argue that in the wide strip the absorbed photon destroys superconductivity locally via the vortex-antivortex mechanism for the emergence of resistance, while in the narrow meander superconductivity is destroyed across the whole strip line, forming a hot belt. Accordingly, the different photon-detection mechanisms associated with vortices and the hot belt determine the qualitative difference in the dependence of the PCR on the magnetic field.
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Stevens, M., Hadfeld, R., Schwall, R., Nam, S. W., & and Mirin, R. (2006). Quantum dot single photon sources studied with superconducting single photon detectors. IEEE J. Sel. Topics Quantum Electron., 12(6), 1255–1267.
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Il'in, K. S., Verevkin, A. A., Gol'tsman, G. N., & Sobolewski, R. (1999). Infrared hot-electron NbN superconducting photodetectors for imaging applications. Supercond. Sci. Technol., 12(11), 755–758.
Abstract: We report an effective quantum efficiency of 340, responsivity >200 A W-1 (>104 V W-1) and response time of 27±5 ps at temperatures close to the superconducting transition for NbN superconducting hot-electron photodetectors (HEPs) in the near-infrared and optical ranges. Our studies were performed on a few nm thick NbN films deposited on sapphire substrates and patterned into µm-size multibridge detector structures, incorporated into a coplanar transmission line. The time-resolved photoresponse was studied by means of subpicosecond electro-optic sampling with 100 fs wide laser pulses. The quantum efficiency and responsivity studies of our photodetectors were conducted using an amplitude-modulated infrared beam, fibre-optically coupled to the device. The observed picosecond response time and the very high efficiency and sensitivity of the NbN HEPs make them an excellent choice for infrared imaging photodetectors and input optical-to-electrical transducers for superconducting digital circuits.
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Stucki, D., Walenta, N., Vannel, F., Thew, R. T., Gisin, N., Zbinden, H., et al. (2009). High rate long-distance quantum key distribution over 250 km of ultra low loss fibres. New J. Phys., 11(7), 075003.
Abstract: We present a fully automated quantum key distribution prototype running at 625 MHz clock rate. Taking advantage of ultra low loss fibres and low-noise superconducting detectors, we can distribute 6,000 secret bits per second over 100 km and 15 bits per second over 250km.
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Marsili, F., Najafi, F., Dauler, E., Bellei, F., Hu, X., Csete, M., et al. (2011). Single-photon detectors based on ultranarrow superconducting nanowires. Nano Lett., 11(5), 2048–2053.
Abstract: We report efficient single-photon detection (η = 20% at 1550 nm wavelength) with ultranarrow (20 and 30 nm wide) superconducting nanowires, which were shown to be more robust to constrictions and more responsive to 1550 nm wavelength photons than standard superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, based on 90 nm wide nanowires. We also improved our understanding of the physics of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors, which we used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of ultranarrow-nanowire detectors by a factor of 4, thus relaxing the requirements on the read-out circuitry and making the devices suitable for a broader range of applications.
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