Title :
Gigahertz counting rates of NbN single-photon detectors for quantum communications
Author :
Pearlman, A. ; Cross, A. ; Slysz, W. ; Zhang, J. ; Verevkin, A. ; Currie, M. ; Korneev, A. ; Kouminov, P. ; Smirnov, K. ; Voronov, B. ; Gol´tsman, Gregory ; Sobolewski, Roman
Author_Institution :
Univ. of Rochester, NY, USA
fDate :
6/1/2005 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We report on the GHz counting rate and jitter of our nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs). The devices were patterned in 4-nm-thick and about 100-nm-wide NbN meander stripes and covered a 10-μm×10-μm area. We were able to count single photons at both the visible and infrared telecommunication wavelengths at rates of over 2 GHz with a timing jitter of below 18 ps. We also present the model for the origin of the SSPD switching dynamics and jitter, based on the time-delay effect in the phase-slip-center formation mechanism during the detector photoresponse process. With further improvements in our readout electronics, we expect that our SSPDs will reach counting rates of up to 10 GHz. An integrated quantum communications receiver based on two fiber-coupled SSPDs and operating at 1550-nm wavelength is also presented.
Keywords :
microwave detectors; nanoelectronics; niobium compounds; photon counting; quantum communication; readout electronics; superconducting microwave devices; superconducting particle detectors; 100 nm; 1550 nm; 4 mm; GHz counting rate; NbN; SSPD switching dynamics; detector photoresponse process; gigahertz counting rates; infrared telecommunication wavelength; nanostructured superconducting single-photon detectors; optical single-photon detectors; phase-slip-center formation mechanism; photon counting; quantum communications; readout electronics; time-delay effect; visible telecommunication wavelength; Communication standards; Cryptography; Detectors; Indium gallium arsenide; Laboratories; Optical fiber communication; Optical receivers; Superconducting photodetectors; Superconducting transition temperature; Timing jitter; Counting rate; fiber-coupling; optical single-photon detectors; quantum communications; quantum cryptography; quantum efficiency; telecommunications receiver; timing jitter;
Journal_Title :
Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TASC.2005.849926