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arXiv · 1305.7000

Optical time domain reflectometry with low noise waveguide-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Carsten Schuck·Wolfram H. P. Pernice·Xiaosong Ma·Hong X. Tang
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Abstract

We demonstrate optical time domain reflectometry over 200 km of optical fiber using low-noise NbTiN superconducting single-photon detectors integrated with Si3N4 waveguides. Our small detector footprint enables high timing resolution of 50ps and a dark count rate of 3 Hz with unshielded fibers, allowing for identification of defects along the fiber over a dynamic range of 37.4 dB. Photons scattered and reflected back from the fiber under test can be detected in free-running mode without showing dead zones or other impairments often encountered in semiconductor photon-counting optical time domain reflectometers.

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Carsten Schuck, Wolfram H. P. Pernice, Xiaosong Ma, Hong X. Tang. 2013-05-30. Optical time domain reflectometry with low noise waveguide-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4803011

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