Mitigating radiation damage of single photon detectors for space applications

Anisimova, Elena; Higgins, Brendon L.; Bourgoin, Jean‐Philippe; Cranmer, Miles; Choi, Eric; Hudson, Danya; Piche, Louis; Scott, Alan; Makarov, Vadim; Jennewein, Thomas

doi:10.1140/epjqt/s40507-017-0062-z

Cited by 47 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The after-pulsing probability before launching was less than 0.1%. Based on these studies [51,57] and our satellite orbit parameters, the expected after-pulsing probability was approximately 0.5% at the end of the two-year mission.…”

Section: Driving Electronics and Testsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Spaceborne, low-noise, single-photon detection for satellite-based quantum communications

Yang

Ren

et al. 2019

Opt. Express

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Single-photon detectors (SPDs) play important roles in highly sensitive detection applications, such as fluorescence spectroscopy, remote sensing and ranging, deep space optical communications, elementary particle detection, and quantum communications. However, the adverse conditions in space, such as the increased radiation flux and thermal vacuum, severely limit their noise performances, reliability, and lifetime. Herein, we present the first example of spaceborne, low-noise, high reliability SPDs, based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) silicon avalanche photodiodes (APD). Based on the high noise-radiation sensitivity of silicon APD, we have developed special shielding structures, multistage cooling technologies, and configurable driver electronics that significantly improved the COTS APD reliability and mitigated the SPD noise-radiation sensitivity. This led to a reduction of the expected in-orbit radiation-induced dark count rate (DCR) from ~219 counts per second (cps) per day to ~0.76 cps/day. During a continuous period of continuous operations in orbit which spanned of 1029 days, the SPD DCR was maintained below 1000 cps, i.e., the actual in-orbit radiation-induced DCR increment rate was ~0.54 cps/day, i.e., two orders of magnitude lower than those evoked by previous technologies, while its photon detection efficiency was > 45%. Our spaceborne, low-noise SPDs established a feasible satellite-based up-link quantum communication that was validated on the quantum experiment science satellite platform. Moreover, our SPDs open new windows of opportunities for space research and applications in deep-space optical communications, single-photon laser ranging, as well as for testing the fundamental principles of physics in space.

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Section: Driving Electronics and Testsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Spaceborne, low-noise, single-photon detection for satellite-based quantum communications

Yang

Ren

et al. 2019

Opt. Express

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“…Sensitivity of the Si-APDs in the DM to proton radiation in orbit is of particular note, as such radiation can significantly increase dark counts. However, strategies including cooling and thermal annealing [40], as well as laser annealing [41], are capable of mitigating these effects, and a space suitable prototype DM implementing these strategies is being developed. For pointing to a satellite from the ground, initial acquisition will likely not have a real-time classical communication link to exchange position data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Demonstration of a Quantum Key Distribution Receiver Payload

Pugh

Kaiser

Bourgoin

et al. 2017

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

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Abstract. Satellite-based quantum terminals are a feasible way to extend the reach of quantum communication protocols such as quantum key distribution (QKD) to the global scale. To that end, prior demonstrations have shown QKD transmissions from airborne platforms to receivers on ground, but none have shown QKD transmissions from ground to a moving aircraft, the latter scenario having simplicity and flexibility advantages for a hypothetical satellite. Here we demonstrate QKD from a ground transmitter to a receiver prototype mounted on an airplane in flight. We have specifically designed our receiver prototype to consist of many components that are compatible with the environment and resource constraints of a satellite. Coupled with our relocatable ground station system, optical links with distances of 3-10 km were maintained and quantum signals transmitted while traversing angular rates similar to those observed of low-Earth-orbit satellites. For some passes of the aircraft over the ground station, links were established within 10 s of position data transmission, and with link times of a few minutes and received quantum bit error rates typically ≈3-5 %, we generated secure keys up to 868 kb in length. By successfully generating secure keys over several different pass configurations, we demonstrate the viability of technology that constitutes a quantum receiver satellite payload and provide a blueprint for future satellite missions to build upon.

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“…Thus, to guarantee dark count rate below 2000Hz per APD, the detector module should be capable of cooling SLiK APDs to −45°C and C30921SH to −65°C. At these temperatures, afterpulsing probability of SLiK and C30921SH is projected to stay below 1% [54]. These temperatures are achievable with thermoelectric cooling and forced-convection air radiator at room temperature [55].…”

Section: Appendix Feasibility Of Using Si Apds As Single-photon Detementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Our DDD value calculated above is equivalent to 5×10 8 cm −2 at 100MeV monochromatic proton fluence in the above test. Taking into account exponential dependence of the dark count rate on temperature [54], we estimate the APD temperature required to reach the dark count rates of 200, 660, and 2000Hz at the end of the 2 year mission. The results are listed in table 1.…”

Section: Appendix Feasibility Of Using Si Apds As Single-photon Detementioning

confidence: 99%

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Space QUEST mission proposal: experimentally testing decoherence due to gravity

Joshi¹,

Pienaar²,

Ralph³

et al. 2018

New J. Phys.

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Models of quantum systems on curved space-times lack sufficient experimental verification. Some speculative theories suggest that quantum correlations, such as entanglement, may exhibit different behavior to purely classical correlations in curved space. By measuring this effect or lack thereof, we can test the hypotheses behind several such models. For instance, as predicted by Ralph et al [5] and Ralph and Pienaar [1], a bipartite entangled system could decohere if each particle traversed through a different gravitational field gradient. We propose to study this effect in a ground to space uplink scenario. We extend the above theoretical predictions of Ralph and coworkers and discuss the scientific consequences of detecting/failing to detect the predicted gravitational decoherence. We present a detailed mission design of the European Space Agency's Space QUEST (Space-Quantum Entanglement Space Test) mission, and study the feasibility of the mission scheme.

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Mitigating radiation damage of single photon detectors for space applications

Cited by 47 publications

References 31 publications

Spaceborne, low-noise, single-photon detection for satellite-based quantum communications

Spaceborne, low-noise, single-photon detection for satellite-based quantum communications

Airborne Demonstration of a Quantum Key Distribution Receiver Payload

Space QUEST mission proposal: experimentally testing decoherence due to gravity

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