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arXiv · 1501.03333

Nanoantenna enhancement for telecom-wavelength superconducting single photon detectors

Robert M. Heath·Michael G. Tanner·Timothy D. Drysdale·Shigehito Miki·Vincenzo Giannini·Stefan A. Maier·Robert H. Hadfield
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Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors are rapidly emerging as a key infrared photon-counting technology. Two front-side-coupled silver dipole nanoantennas, simulated to have resonances at 1480 nm and 1525 nm, were fabricated in a two-step process. An enhancement of 50% to 130% in the system detection efficiency was observed when illuminating the antennas. This offers a pathway to increasing absorption into superconducting nanowires, creating larger active areas, and achieving more efficient detection at longer wavelengths.

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Robert M. Heath, Michael G. Tanner, Timothy D. Drysdale, Shigehito Miki, Vincenzo Giannini, Stefan A. Maier, Robert H. Hadfield. 2015-01-14. Nanoantenna enhancement for telecom-wavelength superconducting single photon detectors. https://doi.org/10.1021/nl503055a

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