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arXiv · 1802.02881

Optical single photon detection in micron-scaled NbN bridges

Y. Korneeva·D. Yu. Vodolazov·A. V. Semenov·I. Florya·N. Simonov·E. Baeva·A. A. Korneev·G. N. Goltsman·T. M. Klapwijk
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Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally that single photon detection can be achieved in micron-wide NbN bridges, with widths ranging from 0.53 $μ$m to 5.15 $μ$m and for photon-wavelengths from 408 nm to 1550 nm. The microbridges are biased with a dc current close to the experimental critical current, which is estimated to be about 50 % of the theoretically expected depairing current. These results offer an alternative to the standard superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), based on nanometer scale nanowires implemented in a long meandering structure. The results are consistent with improved theoretical modelling based on the theory of non-equilibrium superconductivity including the vortex-assisted mechanism of initial dissipation.

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Y. Korneeva, D. Yu. Vodolazov, A. V. Semenov, I. Florya, N. Simonov, E. Baeva, A. A. Korneev, G. N. Goltsman, T. M. Klapwijk. 2018-02-08. Optical single photon detection in micron-scaled NbN bridges. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.9.064037

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