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Surpassing 99% detection efficiency by cascading two superconducting nanowires on one waveguide with self-calibration
Zhen-Guo Li1,2, Jun Mao3, Yi-Jin Zhou1
1Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|October 16, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new superconductor-semiconductor integration for single-photon detectors, achieving 99.73% efficiency. This breakthrough enhances quantum information technologies by improving photon detection in integrated quantum photonics.
Area of Science:
- Quantum photonics
- Integrated quantum photonics (IQP)
- Quantum information technologies
Background:
- Single-photon detectors are crucial for quantum information retrieval in IQP.
- High detection efficiency is vital, as even small losses significantly reduce retrieval probability with more photons.
- Current technologies face limitations in achieving near-perfect single-photon detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel superconductor-semiconductor heterogeneous integration technology.
- To integrate transversal superconducting nanowires single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) onto optical waveguides.
- To achieve ultra-high single-photon detection efficiency on a scalable platform.
Main Methods:
- Developed a superconductor-semiconductor heterogeneous integration process.
- Integrated two cascaded transversal SNSPDs onto a silicon waveguide.
- Implemented an on-chip calibration setup to accurately measure detection efficiency.
Main Results:
- Achieved a record single-photon detection efficiency of 99.73% at 1550 nm wavelength.
- Demonstrated elimination of corner loss in SNSPDs.
- Validated the efficiency measurement despite significant coupling and calibration losses.
Conclusions:
- The developed technology significantly advances the performance of single-photon detectors for IQP.
- This heterogeneous integration approach offers exceptional efficiency and versatility for scalable quantum platforms.
- The achieved efficiency sets a new benchmark for quantum measurement capabilities.
