Photon number resolution without optical mode multiplication

Area of Science:

• Quantum Optics
• Photonics
• Superconducting Devices

Background:

• Traditional photon number resolution methods use on-off detectors with mode multiplexing, facing trade-offs between detection efficiency and rate.
• Existing techniques limit the ability to accurately discriminate between multiple photons, hindering advancements in quantum information processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel photon number resolving detection method that overcomes the limitations of existing techniques.
• To enable efficient and fast discrimination of an arbitrary number of photons.
• To provide a scalable solution for high-efficiency photon counting.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a method utilizing coherent absorption of a single optical mode within a distributed detector array.
• Replaced traditional mode multiplexing with a distributed detector architecture.
• Demonstrated the concept using an array of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.

Main Results:

• Achieved complete and uniform absorption of light across the distributed detector array.
• Showcased the potential for arbitrarily high photon number discrimination efficiency by increasing array size.
• Validated the method's effectiveness with realistic superconducting nanowire single-photon detector parameters.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a simple and effective approach for photon number resolution without optical mode multiplication.
• This technique enables high-efficiency discrimination of numerous photons in large detector arrays.
• The findings pave the way for improved quantum measurement and sensing technologies.