Martini, F., Cibella, S., Gaggero, A., Mattioli, F., & Leoni, R. (2021). Waveguide integrated hot electron bolometer for classical and quantum photonics. Opt. Express, 29(6), 7956–7965.
Abstract: The development of performant integrated detectors, which are sensitive to quantum fluctuations of coherent light, are strongly desired to realize a scalable and determinist photonic quantum processor based on continuous variables states of light. Here, we investigate the performance of hot electron bolometers (HEBs) fabricated on top of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic circuit showing responsivities up to 8600 V/W and a record noise equivalent temperature of 1.1 dB above the quantum limit. Thanks to a detailed analysis of the noise sources of the waveguide integrated HEB, we estimate 14.8 dBV clearance between the shot noise and electrical noise with just 1.1microW of local oscillator power. The full technology compatibility with superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) opens the possibility of nonclassical state engineering and state tomography performed within the same platform, enabling a new class of optical quantum processors.
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de Lara, D. P., Ejrnaes, M., Casaburi, A., Lisitskiy, M., Cristiano, R., Pagano, S., et al. (2008). Feasibility investigation of NbN nanowires as detector in time-of-flight mass spectrometers for macromolecules of interest in biology (proteins). J. Low Temp. Phys., 151(3-4), 771–776.
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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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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Casaburi, A., Ejrnaes, M., Quaranta, O., Gaggero, A., Mattioli, F., Leoni, R., et al. (2008). Experimental characterization of NbN nanowire optical detectors with parallel stripline configuration. In J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. (Vol. 97, 012265 (1 to 6)). IOP Publishing.
Abstract: We have developed a novel geometrical configuration for NbN-based superconducting single photon optical detector (SSPD) that achieves two goals: a much lower intrinsic impedance, and a consequently greater bandwidth, and a much larger signal amplitude compared to the standard meandered configuration. This has been obtained by implementing a properly designed parallel stripline structure where a cascade switching mechanism occurs when one of the striplines is hit by an optical photon. The overall switching occurs synchronously and in a very short time, giving rise to a strong and fast voltage pulse. The SSPD have been realized using state of the art NbN deposition technology and e-beam lithography. The strips are 100 nm wide and 5 μm long and have been realized with 4 nm NbN film on sapphire and Si substrate. We report on experimental characterization of such novel devices. The performances of the proposed novel type of SSPD are compared with standard SSPD design and results in terms of signal amplitude, risetime and effective detection area.
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Marsili, F., Bitauld, D., Divochiy, A., Gaggero, A., Leoni, R., Mattioli, F., et al. (2008). Superconducting nanowire photon number resolving detector at telecom wavelength. In CLEO/QELS (Qmj1 (1 to 2)). Optical Society of America.
Abstract: We demonstrate a photon-number-resolving (PNR) detector, based on parallel superconducting nanowires, capable of resolving up to 5 photons in the telecommunication wavelength range, with sensitivity and speed far exceeding existing approaches.
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