Multi-element superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

Single-photon-detector arrays can provide unparalleled performance and detailed information in applications that require precise timing and single photon sensitivity. Such arrays have been demonstrated using a number of single-photon-detector technologies, but the high performance of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) and the unavoidable overhead of cryogenic cooling make SNSPDs particularly likely to be used in applications that require detectors with the highest performance available. These applications are also the most likely to benefit from and fully utilize the large amount of information and performance advantages provided by a single-photon-detector array.Although the performance advantages of individual superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have been investigated since their first demonstration in 2001, the advantages gained by building arrays of multiple SNSPDs may be even more unique among single photon detector technologies. First, the simplicity and nanoscale dimensions of these detectors make it possible to easily operate multiple elements and to closely space these elements such that the active area of an array is essentially identical to that of a single element. This ability to eliminate seam-loss between elements, as well as the performance advantages gained by using multiple smaller elements, makes the multi-element approach an attractive way to increase the general detector performance (detection efficiency and maximum counting rate) as well as to provide new capabilities (photon-number, spatial, and spectral resolution). Additionally, in contrast to semiconductor-based single-photon detectors, SNSPDs have a negligible probability of spontaneously emitting photons during the detection process, eliminating a potential source of crosstalk between array elements.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Dauler, Eric A. (Eric Anthony), 1980-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Karl K. Berggren.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46377

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/46377