Detecting telecom single photons with 99.5−2.07+0.5% system detection efficiency and high time resolution

Abstract

Single photon detectors are indispensable tools in optics, from fundamental measurements to quantum information processing. The ability of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) to detect single photons with unprecedented efficiency, short dead time, and high time resolution over a large frequency range enabled major advances in quantum optics. However, combining near-unity system detection efficiency (SDE) with high timing performance remains an outstanding challenge. In this work, we fabricated novel SNSPDs on membranes with 99.5−2.07+0.5% SDE at 1350 nm with 32 ps timing jitter (using a room-temperature amplifier), and other detectors in the same batch showed 94%–98% SDE at 1260–1625 nm with 15–26 ps timing jitter (using cryogenic amplifiers). The SiO2/Au membrane enables broadband absorption in small SNSPDs, offering high detection efficiency in combination with high timing performance. With low-noise cryogenic amplifiers operated in the same cryostat, our efficient detectors reach a timing jitter in the range of 15–26 ps. We discuss the prime challenges in optical design, device fabrication, and accurate and reliable detection efficiency measurements to achieve high performance single photon detection. As a result, the fast developing fields of quantum information science, quantum metrology, infrared imaging, and quantum networks will greatly benefit from this far-reaching quantum detection technology.

Near-Maximal Two-Photon Entanglement for Optical Quantum Communication at 2.1μm

“…For example, DIQKD during daytime could be realized by harnessing the low solar background within the 2.1-µm window. Key milestones that are yet to be achieved in this waveband include the development of near-unity efficiency single-photon detectors, as now available at telecom wavelengths [49].…”

Multispectral Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector Based on Thickness-Modulated Optical Film Stack

“…Since the first demonstration, various SNSPDs have been developed based on the wideband response characteristics of superconducting nanowire arising from meVlevel copper-pair energy. Conventional SNSPDs for singlewavelength applications have been manufactured in the ultraviolet-visible to mid-infrared wavelength range [3][4][5][6][7][8][9], and their development has demonstrated near-unity detection efficiencies at target wavelengths [10][11][12][13]. Meanwhile, broadband SNSPDs with high efficiencies across wide bandwidths have been developed, relying on the broadband 353248602@qq.com; xiaoyou@mail.sim.ac.cn; zhangxingyu@mail.sim.ac.cn; zwang@mail.sim.ac.cn) reflectivity of metallic mirrors or other broadband optical structures [14][15][16][17], which may be helpful for photon counting spectroscopy applications.…”

Mid-infrared Single-photon Detection Using Superconducting NbTiN Nanowires with Sub-15 ps Time Resolution in a Gifford-McMahon Cryocooler

“…Similarly, narrow-bandgap photoconductive semiconductors, like HgCdTe, InAs and InGaAs detectors suffer from low efficiency, large dark counts and poor time resolution 23 . In contrast, SNSPDs have high detection efficiency [3][4][5] , high detection rates 24 , low dark count rates (DCR) 8 , unprecedented temporal resolution 6,7 and thus outperform traditional infrared single-photon detectors.…”

“…Subsequently, SNSPDs fabricated on different platforms were explored and developed 2 . Although high system detection efficiencies have been realized and reported for the UV 25 , visible 26 and near-infrared/telecom [3][4][5]27 , detecting single-photons beyond 1550 nm with high efficiency and time resolution has remained a challenge 28 . Early works showed amorphous WSi based SNSPDs could be used for mid-infrared detection.…”