Superconducting nanowire single photon detection system for space applications

Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have advanced various frontier scientific and technological fields such as quantum key distribution and deep space communications. However, limited by available cooling technology, all past experimental demonstrations have had ground-based applications. In this work we demonstrate a SNSPD system using a hybrid cryocooler compatible with space applications. With a minimum operational temperature of 2.8 K, this SNSPD system presents a maximum system detection efficiency of over 50% and a timing jitter of 48 ps, which paves the way for various space applications.

arXiv comment7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, submitted to OE

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Advances in Space Quantum Communications
• Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors for Quantum Information
• Long-distance free-space measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution
• Space-borne quantum memories for global quantum communication
• Enhancing intrinsic detection efficiency of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors via helium ion irradiation
• The Deep Space Quantum Link: Prospective Fundamental Physics Experiments using Long-Baseline Quantum Optics
• Quantum memories for fundamental science in space
• Time-delayed single satellite quantum repeater node for global quantum communications
• Millimeter-scale active area superconducting microstrip single-photon detector fabricated by ultraviolet photolithography
• An updated analysis of satellite quantum-key distribution missions
• Quantum confinement theory of the heat capacity of thin films
• Phonon-confinement theory of thermal conductivity in ultrathin silicon films