Demonstration of a Thermally Coupled Row-Column SNSPD Imaging Array

Area of Science:

• Quantum Optics
• Superconducting Devices
• Photon Detection

Background:

• Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) offer high efficiency and timing.
• Scaling SNSPDs to large imaging arrays presents significant engineering challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable SNSPD multiplexing system for advanced imaging applications.
• To demonstrate imaging capabilities with a novel row-column SNSPD architecture.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a new SNSPD multiplexing system utilizing thermal coupling and detection correlations.
• Employed a two-layer array with photosensitive channels oriented in rows and columns.
• Investigated performance trade-offs with different nanowire orientations (parallel and perpendicular).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated imaging capability in 16-pixel arrays with accurate spot tracking at the few-photon level.
• Validated the effectiveness of the thermally coupled row-column scheme for SNSPD imaging.
• Identified performance characteristics based on nanowire orientation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed thermally coupled row-column SNSPD scheme is readily scalable to kilopixel arrays.
• This architecture, combined with other multiplexing methods, holds potential for megapixel SNSPD imaging.
• The developed system advances the feasibility of large-format SNSPD-based imaging.