Ultrafast and high quantum efficiency large-area superconducting single-photon detectors

A. Korneev; O. Minaeva; A. Divochiy; A. Antipov; N. Kaurova; V. Seleznev; B. Voronov; G. Gol'tsman; D. Pan; J. Kitaygorsky; W. Slysz; Roman Sobolewski

doi:10.1117/12.723684

15 May 2007 Ultrafast and high quantum efficiency large-area superconducting single-photon detectors

A. Korneev, O. Minaeva, A. Divochiy, A. Antipov, N. Kaurova, V. Seleznev, B. Voronov, G. Gol'tsman, D. Pan, J. Kitaygorsky, W. Slysz, Roman Sobolewski

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6583, Photon Counting Applications, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography; 65830I (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723684
Event: International Congress on Optics and Optoelectronics, 2007, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

We present our latest generation of superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) patterned from 4-nm-thick NbN films, as meander-shaped ~0.5-mm-long and ~100-nm-wide stripes. The SSPDs exhibit excellent performance parameters in the visible-to-near-infrared radiation wavelengths: quantum efficiency (QE) of our best devices approaches a saturation level of ~30% even at 4.2 K (limited by the NbN film optical absorption) and dark counts as low as 2x10^-4 Hz. The presented SSPDs were designed to maintain the QE of large-active-area devices, but, unless our earlier SSPDs, hampered by a significant kinetic inductance and a nanosecond response time, they are characterized by a low inductance and GHz counting rates. We have designed, simulated, and tested the structures consisting of several, connected in parallel, meander sections, each having a resistor connected in series. Such new, multi-element geometry led to a significant decrease of the device kinetic inductance without the decrease of its active area and QE. The presented improvement in the SSPD performance makes our detectors most attractive for high-speed quantum communications and quantum cryptography applications.

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A. Korneev, O. Minaeva, A. Divochiy, A. Antipov, N. Kaurova, V. Seleznev, B. Voronov, G. Gol'tsman, D. Pan, J. Kitaygorsky, W. Slysz, and Roman Sobolewski "Ultrafast and high quantum efficiency large-area superconducting single-photon detectors", Proc. SPIE 6583, Photon Counting Applications, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography, 65830I (15 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723684

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