{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/109008"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/109008","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors for infrared communications","abstract":"The ever-increasing data sharing demands of modern technologies forces scientists to adopt new methods that can surpass the approaching limits of classical physics. Quantum optical communications and information, based on single-photon detectors offer the most promising possibility to reach new levels of data rate and communication security. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have already been used in the past to demonstrate new protocols of quantum key distribution and are currently the best single-photon detection technology to enable quantum optical communication. With the goal of creating a global quantum communication network, both optical fiber and free-space optical communication technologies have been explored. In addition, the scientific community started pursuing smaller and cheaper cryogenic solutions to enable the use of SNSPDs on a large scale. In this thesis, I describe the design and development of a cryogenic SNSPD receivers in free-space and optical-fiber configurations for 1550-nm-wavelength. The first configuration was created with the goal of enabling optical communication in the mid-IR. I present future steps to achieve this goal. The second configuration was designed to enable a compact and scalable integration of multiple SNSPD channels in the same system. Our approach has the potential of enabling SNSPD systems with more than 64 channels.","abstract_html":"The ever-increasing data sharing demands of modern technologies forces scientists to adopt new methods that can surpass the approaching limits of classical physics. Quantum optical communications and information, based on single-photon detectors offer the most promising possibility to reach new levels of data rate and communication security. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have already been used in the past to demonstrate new protocols of quantum key distribution and are currently the best single-photon detection technology to enable quantum optical communication. With the goal of creating a global quantum communication network, both optical fiber and free-space optical communication technologies have been explored. In addition, the scientific community started pursuing smaller and cheaper cryogenic solutions to enable the use of SNSPDs on a large scale. In this thesis, I describe the design and development of a cryogenic SNSPD receivers in free-space and optical-fiber configurations for 1550-nm-wavelength. The first configuration was created with the goal of enabling optical communication in the mid-IR. I present future steps to achieve this goal. The second configuration was designed to enable a compact and scalable integration of multiple SNSPD channels in the same system. Our approach has the potential of enabling SNSPD systems with more than 64 channels.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bellei, Francesco"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Karl K. Berggren."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017","date_published":"2017","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:51Z","subjects":["Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["MIT theses are protected by copyright. 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Quantum optical communications and information, based on single-photon detectors offer the most promising possibility to reach new levels of data rate and communication security. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have already been used in the past to demonstrate new protocols of quantum key distribution and are currently the best single-photon detection technology to enable quantum optical communication. With the goal of creating a global quantum communication network, both optical fiber and free-space optical communication technologies have been explored. In addition, the scientific community started pursuing smaller and cheaper cryogenic solutions to enable the use of SNSPDs on a large scale. In this thesis, I describe the design and development of a cryogenic SNSPD receivers in free-space and optical-fiber configurations for 1550-nm-wavelength. The first configuration was created with the goal of enabling optical communication in the mid-IR. I present future steps to achieve this goal. The second configuration was designed to enable a compact and scalable integration of multiple SNSPD channels in the same system. Our approach has the potential of enabling SNSPD systems with more than 64 channels."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Ph. D."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors for infrared communications"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Karl K. Berggren."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"dc:creator":["Bellei, Francesco"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2017-05-11T20:00:23Z"],"dc:date.available":["2017-05-11T20:00:23Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2017"],"dc:description":["Thesis: Ph. 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In addition, the scientific community started pursuing smaller and cheaper cryogenic solutions to enable the use of SNSPDs on a large scale. In this thesis, I describe the design and development of a cryogenic SNSPD receivers in free-space and optical-fiber configurations for 1550-nm-wavelength. The first configuration was created with the goal of enabling optical communication in the mid-IR. I present future steps to achieve this goal. The second configuration was designed to enable a compact and scalable integration of multiple SNSPD channels in the same system. Our approach has the potential of enabling SNSPD systems with more than 64 channels."],"dc:description.degree":["Ph. D."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/109008"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Electrical Engineering and Computer Science."],"dc:title":["Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors for infrared communications"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:51Z"}