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 detected 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 ? = 1.3 ?m. The series-nanowire structure is promising in view of its scalability to large photon numbers and high efficiencies.

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

F Mattioli;A Gaggero;R Leoni;
2012

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 detected 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 ? = 1.3 ?m. The series-nanowire structure is promising in view of its scalability to large photon numbers and high efficiencies.
2012
Istituto di fotonica e nanotecnologie - IFN
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/8744
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