Ultrafast superconducting single-photon detectors for near-infrared-wavelength quantum communications

Authors: A. Verevkin1; A. Pearlman1; W. Slstrokysz1; J. Zhang1; M. Currie2; A. Korneev3; G. Chulkova3; O. Okunev3; P. Kouminov3; K. Smirnov3; B. Voronov3; G. N. Gol'tsman3; Roman Sobolewski1

Source: Journal of Modern Optics, Volume 51, Numbers 9-10, 15 June-10 July 2004 , pp. 1447-1458(12)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

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Abstract:

The paper reports progress on the design and development of niobium-nitride, superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) for ultrafast counting of near-infrared photons for secure quantum communications. The SSPDs operate in the quantum detection mode, based on photon-induced hotspot formation and subsequent appearance of a transient resistive barrier across an ultrathin and submicron-width superconducting stripe. The devices are fabricated from 3.5 nm thick NbN films and kept at cryogenic (liquid helium) temperatures inside a cryostat. The detector experimental quantum efficiency in the photon-counting mode reaches above 20% in the visible radiation range and up to 10% at the 1.3-1.55 µm infrared range. The dark counts are below 0.01 per second. The measured real-time counting rate is above 2 GHz and is limited by readout electronics (the intrinsic response time is below 30 ps). The SSPD jitter is below 18 ps, and the best-measured value of the noise-equivalent power (NEP) is 2 × 10-18 W/Hz1/2 at 1.3 µm. In terms of photon-counting efficiency and speed, these NbN SSPDs significantly outperform semiconductor avalanche photodiodes and photomultipliers.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/09500340410001670866

Affiliations: 1: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics University of Rochester Rochester NY 14627-0231 USA 2: Optical Sciences Division Naval Research Laboratory Washington DC 20375 USA 3: Department of Physics Moscow State Pedagogical University Moscow 119435 Russia

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