| Records |
| Author |
Milostnaya, I.; Korneev, A.; Minaeva, O.; Rubtsova, I.; Slepneva, S.; Seleznev, V.; Chulkova, G.; Okunev, O.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.; Slysz, W.; Kitaygorsky, J.; Cross, A.; Pearlman, A.; Sobolewski, R. |
| Title |
Superconducting nanostructured detectors capable of single photon counting of mid-infrared optical radiation |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
| Volume |
5957 |
Issue |
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Pages |
59570A (1 to 9) |
| Keywords |
SSPD, SNSPD, single-photon detectors, superconductors, superconducting |
| Abstract |
We report on our progress in research and development of ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on ultrathin NbN nanostructures. Our SSPDs were made of the 4-nm-thick NbN films with Tc 11 K, patterned as meander-shaped, 100-nm-wide strips, and covering an area of 10×10 μm2. The detectors exploit a combined detection mechanism, where upon a single-photon absorption, a hotspot of excited electrons and redistribution of the biasing supercurrent, jointly produce a picosecond voltage transient signal across the superconducting nanostripe. The SSPDs are typically operated at 4.2 K, but their sensitivity in the infrared radiation range can be significantly improved by lowering the operating temperature from 4.2 K to 2 K. When operated at 2 K, the SSPD quantum efficiency (QE) for visible light photons reaches 30-40%, which is the saturation value limited by the optical absorption of our 4-nm-thick NbN film. With the wavelength increase of the incident photons,the QE of SSPDs decreases significantly, but even at the wavelength of 6 μm, the detector is able to count single photons and exhibits QE of about 10-2 %. The dark (false) count rate at 2 K is as low as 2x10-4 s,-1 which makes our detector essentially a background-limited sensor. The very low dark-count rate results in a noise equivalent power (NEP) below 10-18 WHz-1/2 for the mid-infrared range (6 μm). Further improvement of the SSPD performance in the mid-infrared range can be obtained by substituting NbN for another, lower-Tc materials with a narrow superconducting gap and low quasiparticles diffusivity. The use of such superconductors should shift the cutoff wavelength below 10 μm. |
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Thesis |
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| Publisher |
SPIE |
Place of Publication |
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Editor |
Rogalski, A.; Dereniak, E.L.; Sizov, F.F. |
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| Area |
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Expedition |
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Conference |
Infrared Photoelectronics |
Notes  |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
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Serial |
1458 |
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| Author |
Slysz, W.; Wegrzecki, M.; Bar, J.; Grabiec, P.; Górska, M.; Latta, C.; Zwiller, V.; Pearlman, A.; Cross, A.; Korneev, A.; Kouminov, P.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Gol’tsman, G.; Verevkin, A.; Currie, M.; Sobolewski, R. |
| Title |
Fiber-coupled quantum-communications receiver based on two NbN superconducting single-photon detectors |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
| Volume |
5957 |
Issue |
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Pages |
59571K (1 to 10) |
| Keywords |
SSPD, SNSPD, single-photon detectors, quantum communication, quantum cryptography, superconductors, infrared optical detectors |
| Abstract |
We present the design and performance of a novel, two-channel single-photon receiver, based on two fiber-coupled NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). The SSPDs are nanostructured superconducting meanders covering an area of 100 μm2 and are known for ultrafast and efficient counting of single, visible-to-infrared photons. Their operation has been explained within a phenomenological hot-electron photoresponse model. Our receiver is intended for fiber-based quantum cryptography and communication systems, operational at near-infrared (NIR) telecommunication wavelengths, λ = 1.3 μm and λ = 1.55 μm. Coupling between the NbN detector and a single-mode optical fiber was achieved using a specially designed, micromechanical photoresist ring, positioned directly over the SSPD active area. The positioning accuracy of the ring was below 1 μm. The receiver with SSPDs was placed (immersed) in a standard liquid-helium transport Dewar and kept without interruption for over two months at 4.2 K. At the same time, the optical fiber inputs and electrical outputs were kept at room temperature. Our best system reached a system quantum efficiency of up to 0.3 % in the NIR radiation range, with the detector coupling efficiency of about 30 %. The response time was measured to be about 250 ps and was limited by our read-out electronics. The measured jitter was close to 35 ps. The presented performance parameters show that our NIR single photon detectors are suitable for practical quantum cryptography and for applications in quantum-correlation experiments. |
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Thesis |
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| Publisher |
SPIE |
Place of Publication |
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Editor |
Rogalski, A.; Dereniak, E.L.; Sizov, F.F. |
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Summary Language |
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Conference |
Infrared Photoelectronics |
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no |
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Serial |
1459 |
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| Author |
Goltsman, G.; Korneev, A.; Minaeva, O.; Rubtsova, I.; Chulkova, G.; Milostnaya, I.; Smirnov, K.; Voronov, B.; Lipatov, A. P.; Pearlman, A. J.; Cross, A.; Slysz, W.; Verevkin, A. A.; Sobolewski, R. |
| Title |
Advanced nanostructured optical NbN single-photon detector operated at 2.0 K |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
| Volume |
5732 |
Issue |
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Pages |
520-529 |
| Keywords |
NbN SSPD, SNSPD |
| Abstract |
We present our studies on quantum efficiency (QE), dark counts, and noise equivalent power (NEP) of the latest generation of nanostructured NbN superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) operated at 2.0 K. Our SSPDs are based on 4 nm-thick NbN films, patterned by electron beam lithography as highly-uniform 100÷120-nm-wide meander-shaped stripes, covering the total area of 10x10 μm2 with the meander filling factor of 0.7. Advances in the fabrication process and low-temperature operation lead to QE as high as 30-40% for visible-light photons (0.56 μm wavelength)-the saturation value, limited by optical absorption of the NbN film. For 1.55 μm photons, QE was 20% and decreased exponentially with the wavelength reaching 0.02% at the 5-μm wavelength. Being operated at 2.0-K temperature the SSPDs revealed an exponential decrease of the dark count rate, what along with the high QE, resulted in the NEP as low as 5x10-21 W/Hz-1/2, the lowest value ever reported for near-infrared optical detectors. The SSPD counting rate was measured to be above 1 GHz with the pulse-to-pulse jitter below 20 ps. Our nanostructured NbN SSPDs operated at 2.0 K significantly outperform their semiconducting counterparts and find practical applications ranging from noninvasive testing of CMOS VLSI integrated circuits to ultrafast quantum communications and quantum cryptography. |
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Spie |
Place of Publication |
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Editor |
Razeghi, M.; Brown, G.J. |
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Summary Language |
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Conference |
Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices II |
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Approved |
no |
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Serial |
1478 |
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| Author |
Hubers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.; Richter, H.; Schwarz, M.; Gunther, B.; Smirnov, K.; Gol’tsman, G.; Voronov, B. |
| Title |
Heterodyne receiver for 3-5 THz with hot-electron bolometer mixer |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
| Volume |
5498 |
Issue |
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Pages |
579-586 |
| Keywords |
NbN HEB mixers |
| Abstract |
Heterodyne receivers for applications in astronomy and planetary research need quantum limited sensitivity. In instruments which are currently build for SOFIA and Herschel superconducting hot electron bolometers (HEB) will be used to achieve this goal at frequencies above 1.4 THz. The local oscillator and the mixer are the most critical components for a heterodyne receiver operating at 3-5 THz. The design and performance of an optically pumped THz gas laser optimized for this frequency band will be presented. In order to optimize the performance for this frequency hot electron bolometer mixers with different in-plane dimensions and logarithmic-spiral feed antennas have been investigated. Their noise temperatures and beam patterns were measured. Above 3 THz the best performance was achieved with a superconducting bridge of 2.0 x 0.2 μm2 incorporated in a logarithmic spiral antenna. The DSB noise temperatures were 2700 K, 4700 K and 6400 K at 3.1 THz, 4.3 THz and 5.2 THz, respectively. The results demonstrate that the NbN HEB is very well suited as a mixer for THz heterodyne receivers up to at least 5 THz. |
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SPIE |
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Editor |
Zmuidzinas, J.; Holland, W.S.; Withington, S. |
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Conference |
Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy II |
| Notes |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
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Serial |
1483 |
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| Author |
Hoogeveen, R. W. M.; Yagoubov, P. A.; Maurellis, A.; Koshelets, V. P.; Shitov, S. V.; Mair, U.; Krocka, M.; Wagner, G.; Birk, M.; Huebers, H.-W.; Richter, H.; Semenov, A.; Gol’tsman, G. N.; Voronov, B. M.; Ellison, B.N.; Kerridge, B.J.; Matheson, D. N.; Alderman, B.; Harman, M.; Siddans, R.; Reburn, J. |
| Title |
New cryogenic heterodyne techniques applied in TELIS: the balloonborne THz and submillimeter limb sounder for atmospheric research |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Proc. SPIE |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. SPIE |
| Volume |
5152 |
Issue |
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Pages |
347-355 |
| Keywords |
TELIS, limb sounder, heterodyne detection, terahertz, sub millimeter, cryogenic, limb sounding, balloon borne, atmospheric research |
| Abstract |
We present a design concept for a new state-of-the-art balloon borne atmospheric monitor that will allow enhanced limb sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere within the submillimeter and far-infrared wavelength spectral range: TELIS, TErahertz and submm LImb Sounder. The instrument is being developed by a consortium of major European institutes that includes the Space Research Organization of the Netherlands (SRON), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will utilize state-of-the-art superconducting heterodyne technology and is designed to be a compact, lightweight instrument cpaable of providing broad spectral coverage, high spectral resolution and long flight duration ( 24 hours duration during a single flight campaign). The combination of high sensitivity and extensive flight duration will allow evaluation of the diurnal variation of key atmospheric constitutenets sucyh as OH, HO2, ClO, BrO togehter will onger lived constituents such as O3, HCL and N2O. Furthermore, TELIS will share a common balloon platform to that of the MIPAS-B Fourier Transform Spectrometer, developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Climate research of the over an extended spectral range. The combination of the TELIS and MIPAS instruments will provide atmospheric scientists with a very powerful observational tool. TELIS will serve as a testbed for new cryogenic heterodyne detection techniques, and as such it will act as a prelude to future spaceborne instruments planned by the European Space Agency (ESA). |
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Thesis |
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SPIE |
Place of Publication |
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Editor |
Strojnik, M. |
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Summary Language |
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Original Title |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISBN |
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Medium |
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Expedition |
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Conference |
Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing XI |
| Notes |
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Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
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Serial |
1508 |
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