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arXiv · 1203.5477

Photon-number resolving detector based on a series array of superconducting nanowires

Saeedeh Jahanmirinejad·Giulia Frucci·Francesco Mattioli·Dondu Sahin·Alessandro Gaggero·Roberto Leoni·Andrea Fiore
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Abstract

We present the experimental demonstration of a superconducting photon number resolving detector. It is based on the series connection of N superconducting nanowires, each connected in parallel to an integrated resistor. The device provides a single voltage readout, proportional to the number of photons absorbed in distinct nanowires. Clearly separated output levels corresponding to the detection of n=1-4 photons are observed in a 4-element detector fabricated from an NbN film on GaAs substrate, with a single-photon system quantum efficiency of 2.6% at the wavelength of 1300nm. The series-nanowire structure is promising in view of its scalability to large photon numbers and high efficiencies.

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Saeedeh Jahanmirinejad, Giulia Frucci, Francesco Mattioli, Dondu Sahin, Alessandro Gaggero, Roberto Leoni, Andrea Fiore. 2012-03-25. Photon-number resolving detector based on a series array of superconducting nanowires. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4746248

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