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Resonance Raman Spectroscopy of Extreme Nanowires and Other 1D Systems
Published on: April 28, 2016
Single-photon detectors based on ultranarrow superconducting nanowires.
Francesco Marsili1, Faraz Najafi, Eric Dauler
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States. marsili@mit.edu
Nano Letters
|April 5, 2011
Summary
We developed ultranarrow superconducting nanowire detectors for efficient single-photon detection at 1550 nm. These detectors offer improved robustness and signal-to-noise ratio, broadening their application potential.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are crucial for quantum information processing.
- Standard SNSPDs face limitations in robustness and efficiency at specific wavelengths.
- Understanding the underlying physics is key to optimizing detector performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize ultranarrow superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.
- To enhance the efficiency and robustness of single-photon detection at 1550 nm.
- To improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of these detectors through enhanced physical understanding.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ultranarrow (20 and 30 nm wide) superconducting nanowires.
- Testing detector efficiency (η) at 1550 nm wavelength.
- Investigating the physics of superconducting nanowire avalanche photodetectors.
- Optimizing detector design to increase SNR.
Main Results:
- Achieved efficient single-photon detection (η = 20%) at 1550 nm with ultranarrow nanowires.
- Demonstrated superior robustness to constrictions compared to standard 90 nm wide nanowires.
- Increased the SNR of ultranarrow detectors by a factor of 4.
- Validated improved detector performance through enhanced physical understanding.
Conclusions:
- Ultranarrow superconducting nanowires represent a significant advancement in single-photon detection technology.
- These detectors exhibit enhanced performance metrics, including efficiency, robustness, and SNR.
- The findings pave the way for broader applications of SNSPDs in various fields.
