Photon-number-resolution with sub-30-ps timing using multi-element superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

Abstract

A photon-number-resolving detector based on a four-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector is demonstrated to have sub-30-ps resolution in measuring the arrival time of individual photons. This detector can be used to characterize the photon statistics of non-pulsed light sources and to mitigate dead-time effects in high-speed photon counting applications. Furthermore, a 25% system detection efficiency at 1550 nm was demonstrated, making the detector useful for both low-flux source characterization and high-speed photon-counting and quantum communication applications. The design, fabrication and testing of this detector are described, and a comparison between the measured and theoretical performance is presented.Keywords: photon-number-resolution; superconducting nanowire single photon detector; timing jitter; system detection efficiency _____________________ *Corresponding author. Email: edauler@mit.edu Photon-number-resolution with sub-30-ps timing using multi-element superconducting nanowire single photon detectorsA photon-number-resolving detector based on a four-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector is demonstrated to have sub-30-ps resolution in measuring the arrival time of individual photons. This detector can be used to characterize the photon statistics of non-pulsed light sources and to mitigate dead-time effects in high-speed photon counting applications. Furthermore, a 25% system detection efficiency at 1550 nm was demonstrated, making the detector useful for both low-flux source characterization and high-speed photon-counting and quantum communication applications. The design, fabrication and testing of this detector are described, and a comparison between the measured and theoretical performance is presented.

A multilayer three-dimensional superconducting nanowire photon detector

“…A detector consisting of a single wire can be made to cover a significant detection area by creating a meander. Usually this means folding the nanowire back and forth across the desired area of approximately 10µm x 10µm [10,11]. This however is not a number resolving detector.…”

“…al. [10]. While this approach improves on the single wire meander it still consists of long wires each of which occupies a significant potion of the active detection area, (i.e.…”

“…This resistance spike creates a measurable current in the external resistance load and a photon is counted. For specific detail see [8,9,10] among others.…”

“…However, a significant problem exists with number resolution and relaxation time and fill factors [9,10,11]. A detector consisting of a single wire can be made to cover a significant detection area by creating a meander.…”

“…Present superconducting nano wire systems, such as NbN meanders, have reasonably good counting efficiency [10,11], by which we mean the probability of an incident photon being detected at over 25%. However, a significant problem exists with number resolution and relaxation time and fill factors [9,10,11].…”