Hybrid Ferromagnet-SNSPDs: Single photon induced order-to-disorder transition in ferromagnets coupled to thin film superconductors

Abstract

The development of midwave and longwave infrared single photon detectors is crucial for their emerging applications in spectroscopy, remote sensing, exoplanet detection, and free space quantum communications. However, existing sensors need to be operated at extremely low temperatures (0.08-0.9K) to reduce dark noise and hence require the use of advanced cryogenics such as dilution refrigerators or $^3$He cryogens, significantly limiting applications. Here we propose a vortex-engineering approach based on a hybrid phase transition in a ferromagnet/superconductor bilayer to increase the operating temperature of infrared single photon detectors up to 3.75K. We show that the introduction of a ferromagnetic layer produces a local magnetic field which impedes vortex crossing in the superconductor, reducing dark noise. When a single photon is incident, the photon-induced hotspot causes an order-to-disorder transition in the ferromagnet, leading to a vortex-induced phase transition in the superconducting layer. By engineering the ferromagnet's Curie temperature to be close to the device's operating temperature, single photon sensitivity can be achieved at increased operating temperatures. We predict at midwave/longwave infrared wavelengths (3-14$\mu$m) the operating temperature can be raised to 3.25-3.75K, enabling significantly simpler cooling systems.