Fiore, A., Marsili, F., Bitauld, D., Gaggero, A., Leoni, R., Mattioli, F., et al. (2009). Counting photons using a nanonetwork of superconducting wires. In M. Cheng (Ed.), Nano-Net (pp. 120–122). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Abstract: We show how the parallel connection of photo-sensitive superconducting nanowires can be used to count the number of photons in an optical pulse, down to the single-photon level. Using this principle we demonstrate photon-number resolving detectors with unprecedented sensitivity and speed at telecommunication wavelengths.
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Gaggero, A., Nejad, S. J., Marsili, F., Mattioli, F., Leoni, R., Bitauld, D., et al. (2010). Nanowire superconducting single-photon detectors on GaAs for integrated quantum photonic applications. Appl. Phys. Lett., 97(15), 3.
Abstract: We demonstrate efficient nanowire superconducting single photon detectors (SSPDs) based on NbN thin films grown on GaAs. NbN films ranging from 3 to 5 nm in thickness have been deposited by dc magnetron sputtering on GaAs substrates at 350 °C. These films show superconducting properties comparable to similar films grown on sapphire and MgO. In order to demonstrate the potential for monolithic integration, SSPDs were fabricated and measured on GaAs/AlAs Bragg mirrors, showing a clear cavity enhancement, with a peak quantum efficiency of 18.3% at λ = 1300 nm and T = 4.2 K.
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Sprengers, J. P., Gaggero, A., Sahin, D., Jahanmirinejad, S., Frucci, G., Mattioli, F., et al. (2011). Waveguide superconducting single-photon detectors for integrated quantum photonic circuits. Appl. Phys. Lett., 99(18), 181110(1–3).
Abstract: The monolithic integration of single-photon sources, passive optical circuits, and single-photon detectors enables complex and scalable quantum photonic integrated circuits, for application in linear-optics quantum computing and quantum communications. Here, we demonstrate a key component of such a circuit, a waveguide single-photon detector. Our detectors, based on superconducting nanowires on GaAs ridge waveguides, provide high efficiency (~0%) at telecom wavelengths, high timing accuracy (~0 ps), and response time in the ns range and are fully compatible with the integration of single-photon sources, passive networks, and modulators.
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Ejrnaes, M., Cristiano, R., Quaranta, O., Pagano, S., Gaggero, A., Mattioli, F., et al. (2007). A cascade switching superconducting single photon detector. Appl. Phys. Lett., 91(26), 262509 (1 to 3).
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.
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Sprengers, J. P., Gaggero, A., Sahin, D., Nejad, S. J., Mattioli, F., Leoni, R., et al. (2011). Waveguide single-photon detectors for integrated quantum photonic circuits. arXiv, , 11.
Abstract: he generation, manipulation and detection of quantum bits (qubits) encoded on single photons is at the heart of quantum communication and optical quantum information processing. The combination of single-photon sources, passive optical circuits and single-photon detectors enables quantum repeaters and qubit amplifiers, and also forms the basis of all-optical quantum gates and of linear-optics quantum computing. However, the monolithic integration of sources, waveguides and detectors on the same chip, as needed for scaling to meaningful number of qubits, is very challenging, and previous work on quantum photonic circuits has used external sources and detectors. Here we propose an approach to a fully-integrated quantum photonic circuit on a semiconductor chip, and demonstrate a key component of such circuit, a waveguide single-photon detector. Our detectors, based on superconducting nanowires on GaAs ridge waveguides, provide high efficiency (20%) at telecom wavelengths, high timing accuracy (60 ps), response time in the ns range, and are fully compatible with the integration of single-photon sources, passive networks and modulators.
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