A 64-pixel mid-infrared single-photon imager based on superconducting nanowire detectors

Abstract

A large-format mid-infrared single-photon imager with very low dark count rates would enable a broad range of applications in fields like astronomy and chemistry. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are a mature photon-counting technology as demonstrated by their figures of merit. However, scaling SNSPDs to large array sizes for mid-infrared applications requires sophisticated readout architectures in addition to superconducting materials development. In this work, an SNSPD array design that combines a thermally coupled row-column multiplexing architecture with a thermally coupled time-of-flight transmission line was developed for mid-infrared applications. The design requires only six cables and can be scaled to larger array sizes. The demonstration of a 64-pixel array shows promising results for wavelengths between $3.4\mu \mathrm{m}$ and $10\mu \mathrm{m}$, which will enable the use of this single-photon detector technology for a broad range of new applications.

7 pages, 3 figures, 1 page supplementary material. The following article has been submitted to Applied Physics Letters

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