Mid-infrared timing jitter of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Abstract

Detector timing jitter is a key parameter in advanced photon counting applications. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors offer the fastest timing jitter in the visible to telecom wavelength range and have demonstrated single-photon sensitivity in the mid-infrared spectral region. Here, we report on timing jitter in a NbTiN nanowire device from 1.56 to 3.5 μm wavelength, achieving a FWHM jitter from 13.2 to 30.3 ps. This study has implications for emerging time-correlated single-photon counting applications in the mid-infrared spectral region.

Photon counting carbon dioxide gas sensing at 2.05μm wavelength

“…We expect that increasing the bend radius of the SMF28 fiber within the cryostat of detector will lead to a significantly improved detection efficiency however this was not an option available to us during this study. Further enhancement can be made with the use of single mode fiber with good transmission at these wavelengths, such as SM2000 [16] or Fluoride based fibers [14], as opposed to SMF28, to couple to the SNSPD device. There are clear routes to improve the efficiency of the detector itself.…”

“…Demonstrating near-unity system detection efficiency [10] at telecom wavelengths, low dark count rates on the order of milliHertz [11] and sub 3ps timing jitter [12]. Single-photon sensitivity at long wavelengths has been reported [13] opening the possibility of time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) far into the mid infrared [14].…”

New frontiers for commercial SNSPDs

“…[9][10][11] As the technology has become more widely adopted, demand for new functionality has arisen to meet the needs of more diverse or advanced applications. These needs from the research community include detector optimization in new wavelength regimes such as visible, ultra-violet, 12 and mid-infrared 13 as well as implementation of photon number resolving techniques in these, nominally, single-photon detectors. These improvements will be briefly discussed in the manuscript along with novel applications of SNSPDs in the fields of cancerous tissue imaging and neuro-monitoring.…”