toggle visibility Search & Display Options

Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print
  Records Links
Author Kerman, A. J.; Dauler, E. A.; Keicher, W. E.; Yang, J. K. W.; Berggren, K. K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Voronov, B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Kinetic-inductance-limited reset time of superconducting nanowire photon counters Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2006 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.  
  Volume 88 Issue 11 Pages 111116 (1 to 3)  
  Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract We investigate the recovery of superconducting NbN-nanowire photon counters after detection of an optical pulse at a wavelength of 1550nm, and present a model that quantitatively accounts for our observations. The reset time is found to be limited by the large kinetic inductance of these nanowires, which forces a tradeoff between counting rate and either detection efficiency or active area. Devices of usable size and high detection efficiency are found to have reset times orders of magnitude longer than their intrinsic photoresponse time.

The authors acknowledge D. Oates and W. Oliver (MIT Lincoln Laboratory), S.W. Nam, A. Miller, and R. Hadfield (NIST) and R. Sobolewski, A. Pearlman, and A. Verevkin (University of Rochester) for helpful discussions and technical assistance. This work made use of MIT’s shared scanning-electron-beam-lithography facility in the Research Laboratory of Electronics. This work is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Air Force Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, recommendations and conclusions are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.
 
  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 1453  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Korneev, Alexander; Vachtomin, Yury; Minaeva, Olga; Divochiy, Alexander; Smirnov, Konstantin; Okunev, Oleg; Gol'tsman, Gregory; Zinoni, C.; Chauvin, Nicolas; Balet, Laurent; Marsili, Francesco; Bitauld, David; Alloing, Blandine; Li, Lianhe; Fiore, Andrea; Lunghi, L.; Gerardino, Annamaria; Halder, Matthäus; Jorel, Corentin; Zbinden, Hugo url  doi
openurl 
  Title Single-photon detection system for quantum optics applications Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron. Abbreviated Journal IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron.  
  Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages 944-951  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  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.  
  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 1077-260X ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 430  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gol'tsman, G.; Minaeva, O.; Korneev, A.; Tarkhov, M.; Rubtsova, I.; Divochiy, A.; Milostnaya, I.; Chulkova, G.; Kaurova, N.; Voronov, B.; Pan, D.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Cross, A.; Pearlman, A.; Komissarov, I.; Slysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Grabiec, P.; Sobolewski, R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Middle-infrared to visible-light ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.  
  Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 246-251  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract We present an overview of the state-of-the-art of NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). Our devices exhibit quantum efficiency (QE) of up to 30% in near-infrared wavelength and 0.4% at 5 mum, with a dark-count rate that can be as low as 10 -4 s -1 . The SSPD structures integrated with lambda/4 microcavities achieve a QE of 60% at telecommunication, 1550-nm wavelength. We have also developed a new generation of SSPDs that possess the QE of large-active-area devices, but, simultaneously, are characterized by low kinetic inductance that allows achieving short response times and the GHz-counting rate with picosecond timing jitter. The improvements presented in the SSPD development, such as fiber-coupled SSPDs, make our detectors most attractive for high-speed quantum communications and quantum computing.  
  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 1051-8223 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 431  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Reiger, E.; Pan, D.; Slysz, W.; Jukna, A.; Sobolewski, R.; Dorenbos, S.; Zwiller, V.; Korneev, A.; Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Minaeva, O.; Gol'tsman, G.; Kitaygorsky, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Spectroscopy with nanostructured superconducting single photon detectors Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron. Abbreviated Journal IEEE J. Select. Topics Quantum Electron.  
  Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages 934-943  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  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.  
  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 1077-260X ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1424  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gol’tsman, G.; Korneev, A.; Tarkhov, M.; Seleznev, V.; Divochiy, A.; Minaeva, O.; Kaurova, N.; Voronov, B.; Okunev, O.; Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Smirnov, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Middle-infrared ultrafast superconducting single photon detector Type Conference Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication 32nd IRMW / 15th ICTE Abbreviated Journal 32nd IRMW / 15th ICTE  
  Volume Issue Pages 115-116  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract We present the results of the research on quantum efficiency of the ultrathin-film superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPD) in the wavelength rage from 1 mum to 5.7 mum. Reduction of operation temperature to 1.6 K allowed us to measure quantum efficiency of ~1 % at 5.7 mum wavelength with the SSPD made from 4-nm-thick NbN film. In a pursuit of further performance improvement we endeavored SSPD fabricating from 4-nm-thick MoRe film as an alternative material. The MoRe film exhibited transition temperature of 7.7K, critical current density at 4.2 K temperature was 1.1times10 6 A/cm 2 , and diffusivity 1.73 cmVs. The single-photon response was observed with MoRe SSPD at 1.3 mum wavelength with quantum efficiency estimated to be 0.04%.  
  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 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1246  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bell, M.; Kaurova, N.; Divochiy, A.; Gol'tsman, G.; Bird, J.; Sergeev, A.; Verevkin, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title On the nature of resistive transition in disordered superconducting nanowires Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.  
  Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 267-270  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract Hot-electron single-photon counters based on long superconducting nanowires are starting to become popular in optical and infrared technologies due to their ultimately high sensitivity and very high response speed. We investigate intrinsic fluctuations in long NbN nanowires in the temperature range of 4.2 K-20 K, i.e. above and below the superconducting transition. These fluctuations are responsible for fluctuation resistivity and also determine the noise in practical devices. Measurements of the fluctuation resistivity were performed at low current densities and also in external magnetic fields up to 5 T. Above the BCS critical temperature T co the resistivity is well described by the Aslamazov-Larkin (AL) theory for two-dimensional samples. Below T co the measured resistivity is in excellent agreement with the Langer-Ambegaokar-McCumber-Halperin (LAMH) theory developed for one-dimensional superconductors. Despite that our nanowires of 100 nm width are two-dimensional with respect to the coherence length, our analysis shows that at relatively low current densities the one-dimensional LAMH mechanism based on thermally induced phase slip centers dominates over the two-dimensional mechanism related to unbinding of vortex-antivortex pairs below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.  
  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 1051-8223 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1247  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kitaygorsky, J.; Komissarov, I.; Jukna, A.; Pan, D.; Minaeva, O.; Kaurova, N.; Divochiy, A.; Korneev, A.; Tarkhov, M.; Voronov, B.; Milostnaya, I.; Gol'tsman, G.; Sobolewski, R.R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Dark counts in nanostructured nbn superconducting single-photon detectors and bridges Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.  
  Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 275-278  
  Keywords SSPD; SNSPD  
  Abstract We present our studies on dark counts, observed as transient voltage pulses, in current-biased NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), as well as in ultrathin (~4 nm), submicrometer-width (100 to 500 nm) NbN nanobridges. The duration of these spontaneous voltage pulses varied from 250 ps to 5 ns, depending on the device geometry, with the longest pulses observed in the large kinetic-inductance SSPD structures. Dark counts were measured while the devices were completely isolated (shielded by a metallic enclosure) from the outside world, in a temperature range between 1.5 and 6 K. Evidence shows that in our two-dimensional structures the dark counts are due to the depairing of vortex-antivortex pairs caused by the applied bias current. Our results shed some light on the vortex dynamics in 2D superconductors and, from the applied point of view, on intrinsic performance of nanostructured SSPDs.  
  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 1051-8223 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1248  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Korneev, A.; Minaeva, O.; Divochiy, A.; Antipov, A.; Kaurova, N.; Seleznev, V.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.; Pan, D.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Slysz, W.; Sobolewski, R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Ultrafast and high quantum efficiency large-area superconducting single-photon detectors Type Conference Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE  
  Volume 6583 Issue Pages 65830I (1 to 9)  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD, superconducting NbN films, infrared single-photon detectors  
  Abstract We present our latest generation of superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) patterned from 4-nm-thick NbN films, as meander-shaped  0.5-mm-long and  100-nm-wide stripes. The SSPDs exhibit excellent performance parameters in the visible-to-near-infrared radiation wavelengths: quantum efficiency (QE) of our best devices approaches a saturation level of  30% even at 4.2 K (limited by the NbN film optical absorption) and dark counts as low as 2x10-4 Hz. The presented SSPDs were designed to maintain the QE of large-active-area devices, but, unless our earlier SSPDs, hampered by a significant kinetic inductance and a nanosecond response time, they are characterized by a low inductance and GHz counting rates. We have designed, simulated, and tested the structures consisting of several, connected in parallel, meander sections, each having a resistor connected in series. Such new, multi-element geometry led to a significant decrease of the device kinetic inductance without the decrease of its active area and QE. The presented improvement in the SSPD performance makes our detectors most attractive for high-speed quantum communications and quantum cryptography applications.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Spie Place of Publication Editor Dusek, M.; Hillery, M.S.; Schleich, W.P.; Prochazka, I.; Migdall, A.L.; Pauchard, A.  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1249  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zinoni, C.; Alloing, B.; Li, L. H.; Marsili, F.; Fiore, A.; Lunghi, L.; Gerardino, A.; Vakhtomin, Y. B.; Smirnov, K. V.; Gol’tsman, G. N. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Single-photon experiments at telecommunication wavelengths using nanowire superconducting detectors Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.  
  Volume 91 Issue 3 Pages 031106 (1 to 3)  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD, APD  
  Abstract The authors report fiber-coupled superconducting single-photon detectors with specifications that exceed those of avalanche photodiodes, operating at telecommunication wavelength, in sensitivity, temporal resolution, and repetition frequency. The improved performance is demonstrated by measuring the intensity correlation function g(2)(τ) of single-photon states at 1300nm produced by single semiconductor quantum dots.

This work was supported by Swiss National Foundation through the “Professeur borsier” and NCCR Quantum Photonics program, FP6 STREP “SINPHONIA” (Contract No. NMP4-CT-2005-16433), IP “QAP” (Contract No. 15848), NOE “ePIXnet,” and the Italian MIUR-FIRB program.
 
  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 Erratum: 1395 Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1396  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ejrnaes, M.; Cristiano, R.; Quaranta, O.; Pagano, S.; Gaggero, A.; Mattioli, F.; Leoni, R.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title A cascade switching superconducting single photon detector Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.  
  Volume 91 Issue 26 Pages 262509 (1 to 3)  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD, parallel-wire  
  Abstract We have realized superconducting single photon detectors with reduced inductance and increased signal pulse amplitude. The detectors are based on a parallel connection of ultrathin NbN nanowires with a common bias inductance. When properly biased, an absorbed photon induces a cascade switch of all the parallel wires generating a signal pulse amplitude of 2mV. The parallel wire configuration lowers the detector inductance and reduces the response time well below 1ns.

This work was performed in the framework of the EU project “SINPHONIA” NMP4-CT-2005-016433.
 
  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 1418  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Dauler, E. A.; Robinson, B. S.; Kerman, A. J.; Yang, J. K. W.; Rosfjord, E. K. M.; Anant, V.; Voronov, B.; Gol'tsman, G.; Berggren, K. K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Multi-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detector Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Abbreviated Journal IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond.  
  Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 279-284  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract A multi-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector (MESNSPD) is presented that consists of multiple independently-biased superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) elements that form a continuous active area. A two-element SNSPD has been fabricated and tested, showing no measurable crosstalk between the elements, sub-50-ps relative timing jitter, and four times the maximum counting rate of a single SNSPD with the same active area. The MESNSPD can have a larger active area and higher speed than a single-element SNSPD and the input optics can be designed so that the detector provides spatial, spectral or photon number resolution.  
  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 1051-8223 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1428  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Slysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Gorska, M.; Rieger, E.; Dorenbos, P.; Zwiller, V.; Milostnaya, I.; Minaeva, O.; Antipov, A.; Okunev, O.; Korneev, A.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Kaurova, N.; Gol’tsman, G.N.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Pan, D.; Pearlman, A.; Cross, A.; Komissarov, I.; Sobolewski, R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Fiber-coupled NbN superconducting single-photon detectors for quantum correlation measurements Type Conference Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Proc. SPIE Abbreviated Journal Proc. SPIE  
  Volume 6583 Issue Pages 65830J (1 to 11)  
  Keywords NbN SSPD, SNSPD, superconducting single-photon detectors, single-photon detectors, fiber-coupled optical detectors, quantum correlations, superconducting devices  
  Abstract We have fabricated fiber-coupled superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), designed for quantum-correlationtype experiments. The SSPDs are nanostructured ( 100-nm wide and 4-nm thick) NbN superconducting meandering stripes, operated in the 2 to 4.2 K temperature range, and known for ultrafast and efficient detection of visible to nearinfrared photons with almost negligible dark counts. Our latest devices are pigtailed structures with coupling between the SSPD structure and a single-mode optical fiber achieved using a micromechanical photoresist ring placed directly over the meander. The above arrangement withstands repetitive thermal cycling between liquid helium and room temperature, and we can reach the coupling efficiency of up to  33%. The system quantum efficiency, measured as the ratio of the photons counted by SSPD to the total number of photons coupled into the fiber, in our early devices was found to be around 0.3 % and 1% for 1.55 &mgr;m and 0.9 &mgr;m photon wavelengths, respectively. The photon counting rate exceeded 250 MHz. The receiver with two SSPDs, each individually biased, was placed inside a transport, 60-liter liquid helium Dewar, assuring uninterrupted operation for over 2 months. Since the receiver’s optical and electrical connections are at room temperature, the set-up is suitable for any applications, where single-photon counting capability and fast count rates are desired. In our case, it was implemented for photon correlation experiments. The receiver response time, measured as a second-order photon cross-correlation function, was found to be below 400 ps, with timing jitter of less than 40 ps.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Spie Place of Publication Editor Dusek, M.; Hillery, M.S.; Schleich, W.P.; Prochazka, I.; Migdall, A.L.; Pauchard, A.  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference Photon Counting Applications, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1431  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zinoni, C.; Alloing, B.; Li, L. H.; Marsili, F.; Fiore, A.; Lunghi, L.; Gerardino, A.; Vakhtomin, Y. B.; Smirnov, K. V.; Gol’tsman, G. N. url  openurl
  Title Single-photonics at telecom wavelengths using nanowire superconducting single photon detectors Type Conference Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication CLEO/QELS Abbreviated Journal CLEO/QELS  
  Volume Issue Pages QTuF6 (1 to 2)  
  Keywords SSPD, SNSPD  
  Abstract Novel single-photon detectors based on NbN superconducting nanostructures promise orders-of- magnitude improvement over InGaAs APDs. We demonstrate this improved performance for the first time by measuring the g(2)(τ) on single photon states produced by a quantum dot at telecom wavelength.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Optical Society of America Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Zinoni:07 Serial 1432  
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. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Constriction-limited detection efficiency of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 2007 Publication Appl. Phys. Lett. Abbreviated Journal Appl. Phys. Lett.  
  Volume 90 Issue 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 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. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Fibre-coupled, single photon detector based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for quantum communications Type Journal Article
  Year (up) 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.  
  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 0950-0340 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number Serial 1434  
Permanent link to this record
Select All    Deselect All
 |   | 
Details
   print

Save Citations:
Export Records: