The dependence of timing jitter of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on the multi-layer sample design and slew rate

Abstract

We investigated the timing jitter of superconducing nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) and found a strong dependence on the detector response. By varying the multi-layer structure, we observed changes in pulse...

Site‐Selective Enhancement of Superconducting Nanowire Single‐Photon Detectors via Local Helium Ion Irradiation

“…For applications, simultaneously high SDE and I sw are desired since a higher I sw yields a higher detection pulse, which reduces not only the requirements for pulse detection with the readout electronics but also the timing jitter induced by electrical noise. [ 16,46 ] To compare these two performance metrics, Figure shows the SDE against I sw (open symbols representing the non‐irradiated detectors, a red frame highlighting saturating SDE, and dashed lines indicating the simulated SDE upper limit). It is interesting to note how I sw and SDE compare between the 8 nm and the 10 nm devices with an SDE between 39% and 46%: While providing a similar efficiency, the 10 nm devices offer twice as much switching current, 20 µA instead of 10 µA.…”

“…Subsequently, the NbTiN films were patterned into cloverleaf structures and SNSPDs using electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching, followed by optical lithography and gold evaporation for contact pad fabrication. [46] The detector design consisted of a 100 nm wide wire in a meander form with a fill factor of 50%, and a total active area of 10 µm × 10 µm. The cloverleaf structures were fabricated in order to perform magnetotransport measurements in van-der-Pauw geometry [47,48] with an active area of 10 µm × 10 µm and to correlate the results of macroscopic transport with the He ion fluence dependent performance metrics of the corresponding SNSPDs.…”

Optimizing the growth conditions of Al mirrors for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

“…The detectors were characterized in a cryogenic probe station from Janis operated at 4.5 K sample surface temperature. Here, a calibrated parallel beam is used that allows flood illumination and fast characterization of multiple devices [19]. By broadening the beam to a diameter of about 500 µm using lensed optics, a homogeneous beam spot is generated with a reduced incident photon flux per 10 µm × 10 µm by means of geometric attenuation.…”

“…NV centers in diamond [9], 2D materials [10], or quantum dots [11]), spin-photon interfaces [12], and detectors. For the latter, superconducting (nanowire) single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] have prevailed over other potential candidates such as transition edge sensors [20] or single-photon avalanche diodes [21]. In particular, SNSPDs outperform the other systems by their excellent timing resolution in the range of a few ps [22] combined with their high system detection efficiency in the visible to near-infrared [23] when integrated into a resonator structure.…”