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Lipatov A, Okunev O, Smirnov K, Chulkova G, Korneev A, Kouminov P, et al. An ultrafast NbN hot-electron single-photon detector for electronic applications. Supercond Sci Technol. 2002;15(12):1689–92.
Abstract: We present the latest generation of our superconducting single-photon detector (SPD), which can work from ultraviolet to mid-infrared optical radiation wavelengths. The detector combines a high speed of operation and low jitter with high quantum efficiency (QE) and very low dark count level. The technology enhancement allows us to produce ultrathin (3.5 nm thick) structures that demonstrate QE hundreds of times better, at 1.55 μm, than previous 10 nm thick SPDs. The best, 10 × 10 μm2, SPDs demonstrate QE up to 5% at 1.55 μm and up to 11% at 0.86 μm. The intrinsic detector QE, normalized to the film absorption coefficient, reaches 100% at bias currents above 0.9 Ic for photons with wavelengths shorter than 1.3 μm.
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Il'in KS, Verevkin AA, Gol'tsman GN, Sobolewski R. Infrared hot-electron NbN superconducting photodetectors for imaging applications. Supercond Sci Technol. 1999;12(11):755–8.
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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Rönnung F, Cherednichenko S, Winkler D, Gol'tsman GN. A nanoscale YBCO mixer optically coupled with a bow tie antenna. Supercond Sci Technol. 1999;12(11):853–5.
Abstract: The bolometric response of YBa2Cu3O7-δ(YBCO) hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) to near-infrared radiation was studied. Devices were fabricated from a 50 nm thick film and had in-plane areas of 10 × 10 µm2, 2 × 0.2 µm2, 1 × 0.2µm2 and 0.5 × 0.2 µm2. We found that nonequilibrium phonons cool down more effectively for the bolometers with smaller area. For the smallest bolometer the bolometric component in the response is 10 dB less than for the largest one.
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Danerud M, Winkler D, Lindgren M, Zorin M, Trifonov V, Karasik B, et al. A fast infrared detector based on patterned YBCO thin film. Supercond Sci Technol. 1994;7(5):321–3.
Abstract: Detectors for infrared radiation ( lambda =0.85 mu m) were made of 50 nm thick YBa2Cu3O7- delta films on LaAlO3 and MgO or 60 nm thick films on NdGaO3. Parallel strips (1 mu m wide by 20 mu m long) were patterned in the films and formed the active device. These devices were designed to detect short infrared laser pulses by electron heating. The detectors were current biased into the resistive and the normal states. The response was studied in direct pulse measurements as well as by amplitude modulation of a laser. The pulse measurements showed a fast picosecond response followed by a slower decay related to phonon escape through the film-substrate interface and heat diffusion in the substrate. The frequency spectra up to 10 GHz showed two slopes with a knee corresponding to the phonon escape time.
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Kroug M, Yagoubov P, Gol'tsman G, Kollberg E. NbN quasioptical phonon cooled hot electron bolometric mixers at THz frequencies. In: Inst. Phys. Conf. Ser. Vol 1. Bristol; 1997. p. 405–8.
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Goltsman G, Korneev A, Divochiy A, Minaeva O, Tarkhov M, Kaurova N, et al. Ultrafast superconducting single-photon detector. J Modern Opt. 2009;56(15):1670–80.
Abstract: The state-of-the-art of the NbN nanowire superconducting single-photon detector technology (SSPD) is presented. The SSPDs exhibit excellent performance at 2 K temperature: 30% quantum efficiency from visible to infrared, negligible dark count rate, single-photon sensitivity up to 5.6 µm. The recent achievements in the development of GHz counting rate devices with photon-number resolving capability is presented.
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Marsili F, Bitauld D, Fiore A, Gaggero A, Leoni R, Mattioli F, et al. Superconducting parallel nanowire detector with photon number resolving functionality. J Modern Opt. 2009;56(2-3):334–44.
Abstract: We present a new photon number resolving detector (PNR), the Parallel Nanowire Detector (PND), which uses spatial multiplexing on a subwavelength scale to provide a single electrical output proportional to the photon number. The basic structure of the PND is the parallel connection of several NbN superconducting nanowires (100 nm-wide, few nm-thick), folded in a meander pattern. Electrical and optical equivalents of the device were developed in order to gain insight on its working principle. PNDs were fabricated on 3-4 nm thick NbN films grown on sapphire (substrate temperature TS=900C) or MgO (TS=400C) substrates by reactive magnetron sputtering in an Ar/N2 gas mixture. The device performance was characterized in terms of speed and sensitivity. The photoresponse shows a full width at half maximum (FWHM) as low as 660ps. PNDs showed counting performance at 80 MHz repetition rate. Building the histograms of the photoresponse peak, no multiplication noise buildup is observable and a one photon quantum efficiency can be estimated to be QE=3% (at 700 nm wavelength and 4.2 K temperature). The PND significantly outperforms existing PNR detectors in terms of simplicity, sensitivity, speed, and multiplication noise.
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Słysz W, Wegrzecki M, Bar J, Grabiec P, Górska M, Zwiller V, et al. Fibre-coupled, single photon detector based on NbN superconducting nanostructures for quantum communications. J Modern Opt. 2007;54(2-3):315–26.
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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Verevkin A, Pearlman A, Slysz W, Zhang J, Currie M, Korneev A, et al. Ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors for near-infrared-wavelength quantum communications. J Modern Opt. 2004;51(9-10):1447–58.
Abstract: The paper reports progress on the design and development of niobium-nitride, superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) for ultrafast counting of near-infrared photons for secure quantum communications. The SSPDs operate in the quantum detection mode, based on photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-width superconducting stripe. The devices are fabricated from 3.5 nm thick NbN films and kept at cryogenic (liquid helium) temperatures inside a cryostat. The detector experimental quantum efficiency in the photon-counting mode reaches above 20% in the visible radiation range and up to 10% at the 1.3–1.55 μn infrared range. The dark counts are below 0.01 per second. The measured real-time counting rate is above 2 GHz and is limited by readout electronics (the intrinsic response time is below 30 ps). The SSPD jitter is below 18 ps, and the best-measured value of the noise-equivalent power (NEP) is 2 × 10−18 W/Hz1/2. at 1.3 μm. In terms of photon-counting efficiency and speed, these NbN SSPDs significantly outperform semiconductor avalanche photodiodes and photomultipliers.
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Wild W, Kardashev NS, Likhachev SF, Babakin NG, Arkhipov VY, Vinogradov IS, et al. Millimetron—a large Russian-European submillimeter space observatory. Exp Astron. 2009;23(1):221–44.
Abstract: Millimetron is a Russian-led 12 m diameter submillimeter and far-infrared space observatory which is included in the Space Plan of the Russian Federation for launch around 2017. With its large collecting area and state-of-the-art receivers, it will enable unique science and allow at least one order of magnitude improvement with respect to the Herschel Space Observatory. Millimetron will be operated in two basic observing modes: as a single-dish observatory, and as an element of a ground-space very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) system. As single-dish, angular resolutions on the order of 3 to 12 arc sec will be achieved and spectral resolutions of up to a million employing heterodyne techniques. As VLBI antenna, the chosen elliptical orbit will provide extremely large VLBI baselines (beyond 300,000 km) resulting in micro-arc second angular resolution.
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