APL Photonics (Nov 2017)

Single-photon detectors combining high efficiency, high detection rates, and ultra-high timing resolution

  • Iman Esmaeil Zadeh,
  • Johannes W. N. Los,
  • Ronan B. M. Gourgues,
  • Violette Steinmetz,
  • Gabriele Bulgarini,
  • Sergiy M. Dobrovolskiy,
  • Val Zwiller,
  • Sander N. Dorenbos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5000001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 11
pp. 111301 – 111301-7

Abstract

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Single-photon detection with high efficiency, high time resolution, low dark counts, and high photon detection rates is crucial for a wide range of optical measurements. Although efficient detectors have been reported before, combining all performance parameters in a single device remains a challenge. Here, we show a broadband NbTiN superconducting nanowire detector with an efficiency exceeding 92%, over 150 MHz photon detection rate, and a dark count rate below 130 Hz operated in a Gifford-McMahon cryostat. Furthermore, with careful optimization of the detector design and readout electronics, we reach an ultra-low system timing jitter of 14.80 ps (13.95 ps decoupled) while maintaining high detection efficiencies (>75%).