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

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 challeng...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:APL photonics 2017-11, Vol.2 (11), p.111301-111301-7
Main Authors: Esmaeil Zadeh, Iman, Los, Johannes W. N., Gourgues, Ronan B. M., Steinmetz, Violette, Bulgarini, Gabriele, Dobrovolskiy, Sergiy M., Zwiller, Val, Dorenbos, Sander N.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary: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%).
ISSN:2378-0967
2378-0967
DOI:10.1063/1.5000001