Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors: physics and applications

Abstract

Single-photon detectors based on superconducting nanowires (SSPDs or SNSPDs) have rapidly emerged as a highly promising photon-counting technology for infrared wavelengths. These devices offer high efficiency, low dark counts and excellent timing resolution. In this review, we consider the basic SNSPD operating principle and models of device behaviour. We give an overview of the evolution of SNSPD device design and the improvements in performance which have been achieved. We also evaluate device limitations and noise mechanisms. We survey practical refrigeration technologies and optical coupling schemes for SNSPDs. Finally we summarize promising application areas, ranging from quantum cryptography to remote sensing. Our goal is to capture a detailed snapshot of an emerging superconducting detector technology on the threshold of maturity.

27 pages, 5 figures, Review article preprint version

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Singlet oxygen luminescence detection with a fiber-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detector
• Matrix of integrated superconducting single-photon detectors with high timing resolution
• Possible Indications of Electronic Inhomogeneities in Superconducting Nanowire Detectors
• Photoconductivity effects in mixed-phase BSCCO whiskers