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Hadfield RH, Habif JL, Schlafer J, Schwall RE, Nam SW. Quantum key distribution at 1550 nm with twin superconducting single-photon detectors. Appl Phys Lett. 2006;89(24):241129.
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Delacour C, Claudon J, Poizat J-P, Pannetier B, Bouchiat V, de Lamaestre RE, et al. Superconducting single photon detectors made by local oxidation with an atomic force microscope. Appl Phys Lett. 2007;90(19):191116 (1 t0 3).
Abstract: The authors present a fabrication technique of superconducting single photon detectors made by local oxidation of niobium nitride ultrathin films. Narrow superconducting meander lines are obtained by direct writing of insulating niobium oxynitride lines through the films using voltage-biased tip of an atomic force microscope. Due to the 30nm resolution of the lithographic technique, the filling factor of the meander line can be made substantially higher than detector of similar geometry made by electron beam lithography, thus leading to increased quantum efficiency. Single photon detection regime of these devices is demonstrated at 4.2K.
The authors thank J.-P. Maneval for stimulating discussions. This work has been partly supported by ACI Nanoscience from French Ministry of Research, D.G.A., by Grant No. 02.445.11.7434 of Russian Ministry of Education and Science, and by the European Commission under project “SINPHONIA,” Contract No. NMP4-CT-2005-16433.
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Tarkhov M, Claudon J, Poizat JP, Korneev A, Divochiy A, Minaeva O, et al. Ultrafast reset time of superconducting single photon detectors. Appl Phys Lett. 2008;92(24):241112 (1 to 3).
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Milostnaya I, Korneev A, Tarkhov M, Divochiy A, Minaeva O, Seleznev V, et al. Superconducting single photon nanowire detectors development for IR and THz applications. J Low Temp Phys. 2008;151(1-2):591–6.
Abstract: We present our progress in the development of superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on meander-shaped nanowires made from few-nm-thick superconducting films. The SSPDs are operated at a temperature of 2–4.2 K (well below T c ) being biased with a current very close to the nanowire critical current at the operation temperature. To date, the material of choice for SSPDs is niobium nitride (NbN). Developed NbN SSPDs are capable of single photon counting in the range from VIS to mid-IR (up to 6 μm) with a record low dark counts rate and record-high counting rate. The use of a material with a low transition temperature should shift the detectors sensitivity towards longer wavelengths. We present state-of-the art NbN SSPDs as well as the results of our recent approach to expand the developed SSPD technology by the use of superconducting materials with lower T c , such as molybdenum rhenium (MoRe). MoRe SSPDs first were made and tested; a single photon response was obtained.
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de Lara DP, Ejrnaes M, Casaburi A, Lisitskiy M, Cristiano R, Pagano S, et al. Feasibility investigation of NbN nanowires as detector in time-of-flight mass spectrometers for macromolecules of interest in biology (proteins). J Low Temp Phys. 2008;151(3-4):771–6.
Abstract: We are investigating the possibility of using NbN nanowires as detectors in time-of-flight mass spectrometers for investigation of macromolecules of interest in biology (proteins). NbN nanowires could overcome the two major drawbacks encountered so far by cryogenic detectors, namely the low working temperature in the mK region and the slow temporal response. In fact, NbN nanowires can work at 5 K and the response time is at least a factor 10–100 better than that of other cryogenic detectors. We present a feasibility study based on a numerical code to calculate the response of a NbN nanowire. The parameter space is investigated at different energies from IR to macromolecules (i.e. from eV to keV) in order to understand if larger value of film thickness and width can be used for the keV energy region. We also present preliminary experimental results of irradiation with X-ray photons of NbN to simulate the effect of macromolecules of the same energy.
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