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arXiv · 1311.6458

Superconducting series nanowire detector counting up to twelve photons

Zili Zhou·Saeedeh Jahanmirinejad·Francesco Mattioli·Döndü Sahin·Giulia Frucci·Alessandro Gaggero·Roberto Leoni·Andrea Fiore
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Abstract

We demonstrate a superconducting photon-number-resolving detector capable of resolving up to twelve photons at telecommunication wavelengths. It is based on a series array of twelve superconducting NbN nanowire elements, each connected in parallel with an integrated resistor. The photon-induced voltage signals from the twelve elements are summed up into a single readout pulse with a height proportional to the detected photon number. Thirteen distinct output levels corresponding to the detection of n=0-12 photons are observed experimentally. A detailed analysis of the excess noise shows the potential of scaling to an even larger dynamic range.

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Zili Zhou, Saeedeh Jahanmirinejad, Francesco Mattioli, Döndü Sahin, Giulia Frucci, Alessandro Gaggero, Roberto Leoni, Andrea Fiore. 2013-11-25. Superconducting series nanowire detector counting up to twelve photons. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.22.003475

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