A scalable multi-photon coincidence detector based on superconducting nanowires

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Photonics
• Superconducting devices

Background:

• Coincidence detection of single photons is essential for quantum technologies.
• Scaling up detector arrays presents significant electronic readout challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel two-terminal coincidence detector architecture.
• To enable scalable readout for large numbers of spatial modes in photon detection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized superconducting nanowire microstrip transmission lines.
• Employed timing logic for coincidence event resolution.
• Demonstrated a sixteen-element detector array.

Main Results:

• Successfully resolved all 136 single- and two-photon coincidence events with the sixteen-element detector.
• Achieved photon-number-resolving capability by resolving up to four-photon events in a four-element device.
• Explored detector output pulse shapes.

Conclusions:

• The developed detector architecture offers a scalable solution for multi-photon coincidence detection.
• This technology is highly relevant for large-scale photonic integrated circuits.
• The detector provides photon-number-resolving capabilities.