Conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)have been typically limited in their applications due to their size,weight,and power consumption,which confine their use to laboratory settings.Howe...Conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)have been typically limited in their applications due to their size,weight,and power consumption,which confine their use to laboratory settings.However,with the rapid development of remote imaging,sensing technologies,and long-range quantum communication with fewer topographical constraints,the demand for high-efficiency single-photon detectors integrated with avionic platforms is rapidly growing.We herein designed and manufactured the first drone-based SNSPD system with a system detection efficiency(SDE)as high as 91.8%.This drone-based system incorporates high-performance NbTiN SNSPDs,a self-developed miniature liquid helium dewar,and custom-built integrated electrical setups,making it capable of being launched in complex topographical conditions.Such a drone-based SNSPD system may open the use of SNSPDs for applications that demand high SDE in complex environments.展开更多
Increasing the detection efficiency （DE） is a hot issue in the development of the superconducting nanowire single photon detector （SNSPD）. In this work, a cavity-integrated structure coupled to the SNSPD is used t...Increasing the detection efficiency （DE） is a hot issue in the development of the superconducting nanowire single photon detector （SNSPD）. In this work, a cavity-integrated structure coupled to the SNSPD is used to enhance the light absorption of nanowire. Ultra-thin Nb films are successfully prepared by magnetron sputtering, which are used to fabricate Nb/Al SNSPD with the curve of lOOnm and the square area of 4 × 4μm2 by sputtering and the lift-off method. To characterize the optical and electrical performance of the cavity-integrated SNSPD, a reliable cryogenic research system is built up based on a He3 system. To satisfy the need of light coupling, a packaging structure with collimator is conducted. Both DE and the dark count rates increase with lb. It is also found that the DE of SNSPD with cavities can be up to 0.17% at the temperature of 0.7K under the infrared light of 1550nm, which is obviously higher than that of the SNSPD directly fabricated upon silicon without any cavity structure.展开更多
Optical superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES)has been widely used in quantum information,biological imaging,and fluorescence microscopy owing to its high quantum efficiency,low dark count,and photon number resol...Optical superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES)has been widely used in quantum information,biological imaging,and fluorescence microscopy owing to its high quantum efficiency,low dark count,and photon number resolving capability.The temperature sensitivity(α_(I))and current sensitivity(β_(I))are important parameters for optical TESs,which are generally extracted from the complex impedance.Here we present a method to extractα_(I)andβ_(I)based on a two-fluid model and compare the calculated current-voltage curves,pulse response,and theoretical energy resolution with the measured ones.This method shows qualitative agreement that is suitable for further optimization of optical TESs.展开更多
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors （SNSPDs） with a composite optical structure composed of phase-grating and optical cavity structures are designed to enhance both the system detection efficiency and t...Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors （SNSPDs） with a composite optical structure composed of phase-grating and optical cavity structures are designed to enhance both the system detection efficiency and the response bandwidth. Numerical simulation by the finite-difference time-domain method shows that the photon absorption capacity of SNSPDs with a composite optical structure can be enhanced significantly by adjusting the parameters of the phase-grating and optical cavity structures at multiple frequency bands. The absorption capacity of the superconducting nanowires reaches 70%, 72%, 60.73%, 61.7%, 41.2%, and 46.5% at wavelengths of 684, 850, 732, 924, 1256, and 1426nm, respectively. The use of a composite optical structure reduces the total filling factor of superconducting nanowires to only 0.25, decreases the kinetic inductance of SNSPDs, and improves the count rates.展开更多
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent detection performance;however, the underlying physics of the detection process is still unclear.I...Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent detection performance;however, the underlying physics of the detection process is still unclear.In this study, we investigate the wavelength dependence of the intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE) for NbN SNSPDs.We fabricate various NbN SNSPDs with linewidths ranging from 30 nm to 140 nm.Then, for each detector, the IDE curves as a function of bias current for different incident photon wavelengths of 510–1700 nm are obtained.From the IDE curves, the relations between photon energy and bias current at a certain IDE are extracted.The results exhibit clear nonlinear energy–current relations for the NbN detectors, indicating that a detection model only considering quasiparticle diffusion is unsuitable for the meander-type NbN-based SNSPDs.Our work provides additional experimental data on SNSPD detection mechanism and may serve as an interesting reference for further investigation.展开更多
The fabrication of high-quality YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7)−δ(YBCO)nanowires has garnered significant attention in the field of high-temperature superconductivity due to their potential applications in quantum communication,d...The fabrication of high-quality YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7)−δ(YBCO)nanowires has garnered significant attention in the field of high-temperature superconductivity due to their potential applications in quantum communication,deep space exploration,and various other fields.Cl_(2)-assisted reactive ion etching(RIE)stands out as a more effective and efficient method for patterning scalable thin films.However,neither RIE nor high-density RIE has achieved superconducting YBCO nanowires with a width smaller than 3μm.Here,we delve into the factors that limit the line width of Cl_(2)-assisted inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching(ICP-RIE)processing and the method to elimiate them.Our approach involves utilizing Cl_(2)/Ar as etching gas and incorporating a specialized vacuum heating process after etching.Our experimental results demonstrate the successful realization of 10 nm-thick YBCO nanowires with widths as small as 0.15μm,exhibiting excellent performance in terms of their intrinsic superconducting properties.The mechanism is evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)analysis in comparison of nanowires with and without heating treatment,in which the residual Cl_(2) on the sidewall of nanowires evaporates and oxidizes Cu^(+)back into Cu^(2+)in an unetched state.展开更多
The performance of single-photon detectors can be enhanced by using nano-antenna. The characteristics of the superconducting nano-wire single-photon detector with cavity plus anti-reflect coating and specially designe...The performance of single-photon detectors can be enhanced by using nano-antenna. The characteristics of the superconducting nano-wire single-photon detector with cavity plus anti-reflect coating and specially designed nano~ antenna is analysed. The photon collection efficiency of the detector is enhanced without damaging the detector＇s speed, thus getting rid of the dilemma of speed and efficiency. The characteristics of nano-antenna are discussed, such as the position and the effect of the active area, and the best result is given. The photon collection efficiency is increased by 92 times compared with that of existing detectors.展开更多
High detection efficiency and low intrinsic dark count rate are two advantages of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors(SNSPDs).However,the stray photons penetrated into the fiber would cause the extrinsic ...High detection efficiency and low intrinsic dark count rate are two advantages of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors(SNSPDs).However,the stray photons penetrated into the fiber would cause the extrinsic dark count rate,owing to the free running mode of SNSPDs.In order to improve the performance of SNSPDs in realistic scenarios,stray photons should be investigated and suppression methods should be adopted.In this study,we demonstrate the pulsegated mode,with 500 kHz gating frequency,of a commercial SNSPD system for suppressing the response of stray photons about three orders of magnitude than its free-running counterpart on the extreme test conditions.When we push the gating frequency to 8 MHz,the dark count rate still keeps under 4%of free-running mode.In experiments,the intrinsic dark count rate is also suppressed to 4.56×10^(-2)counts per second with system detection efficiency of 76.4372%.Furthermore,the time-correlated single-photon counting analysis also approves the validity of our mode in suppressing the responses of stray photons.展开更多
Multiplexing technologies based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUIDs) are crucial to cryogenic readout of superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES) arrays. Demands for large-scale TES arrays promot...Multiplexing technologies based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUIDs) are crucial to cryogenic readout of superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES) arrays. Demands for large-scale TES arrays promote the development of multiplexing technologies towards large multiplexing factors and low readout noise. The development of multiplexing technologies also facilitates new applications of TES arrays in a wide range of frequencies. Here we summarize different types of SQUID-based multiplexing technologies including time-division multiplexing, code-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing and microwave SQUID multiplexing. The advances and parameter constraints of each multiplexing technology are also discussed.展开更多
Terahertz （THz） direct detectors based on superconducting niobium nitride （NbN） hot electron bolometers （HEBs） with microwave （MW） biasing are studied. The MW is used to bias the HEB to the optimum point and t...Terahertz （THz） direct detectors based on superconducting niobium nitride （NbN） hot electron bolometers （HEBs） with microwave （MW） biasing are studied. The MW is used to bias the HEB to the optimum point and to readout the impedance changes caused by the incident THz signals. Compared with the thermal biasing method, this method would be more promising in large scale array with simple readout. The used NbN HEB has an excellent performance as heterodyne detector with the double sideband noise temperature （T N） of 403K working at 4.2K and 0.65THz. As a result, the noise equivalent power of 1.5pW/Hz 1/2 and the response time of 64ps are obtained for the direct detectors based on the NbN HEBs and working at 4.2K and 0.65THz.展开更多
Superconducting transition edge sensor(TES)bolometers require superconducting films to have controllable transition temperatures T_(c)in different practical applications.The value of T_(c)strongly affects thermal cond...Superconducting transition edge sensor(TES)bolometers require superconducting films to have controllable transition temperatures T_(c)in different practical applications.The value of T_(c)strongly affects thermal conductivity and thermal noise performance of TES detectors.Al films doped with Mn(Al-Mn)of different concentrations can accomplish tunable T_(c)A magnetron sputtering machine is used to deposit the Al-Mn films in this study.Fabrication parameters including sputtering pressure and annealing process are studied and their influences on T_(c)and superconducting transition widthΔT_(c)are optimized.The Al-Mn films withΔT_(c)below 1.0 mK for T_(c)in a range of 520 mK-580 mK are successfully fabricated.展开更多
A transition edge sensor(TES)is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature,and combined with a high-Z metal of a certain thickness,it can realize high-energy resolution measurements of particles such as X-rays.X-ra...A transition edge sensor(TES)is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature,and combined with a high-Z metal of a certain thickness,it can realize high-energy resolution measurements of particles such as X-rays.X-rays with energies below 10 keV have a weak penetrating ability,hence,only gold or bismuth of a few micrometers in thickness can guarantee a quantum efficiency higher than 70%.Therefore,the entire structure of the TES X-ray detector in this energy range can be realized using a microfabrication process.However,for X-rays or γ-rays from 10 keV to 200 keV,submillimeter absorber layers are required,which cannot be realized using the microfabrication process.This paper first briefly introduces a set of TES X-ray detectors and their auxiliary systems,and then focuses on the introduction of the TES γ-ray detector with an absorber based on a submillimeter lead-tin alloy sphere.The detector achieved a quantum efficiency above 70% near 100 keV and an energy resolution of approximately 161.5 eV at 59.5 keV.展开更多
Outbursts of methane and rocks are, similarly to rock bursts, the biggest hazards in deep mines and are equally difficult to predict. The violent process of the outburst itself, along with the scale and range of hazar...Outbursts of methane and rocks are, similarly to rock bursts, the biggest hazards in deep mines and are equally difficult to predict. The violent process of the outburst itself, along with the scale and range of hazards following the rapid discharge of gas and rocks, requires solutions which would enable quick and unambiguous detection of the hazard, immediate power supply cut-off and evacuation of personnel from potentially hazardous areas. For this purpose, an integrated outburst detector was developed. Assumed functions of the sensor which was equipped with three measuring and detection elements： a chamber for constant measurement of methane concentration, pressure sensor and microphone. Tests of the sensor model were carried out to estimate the parameters which characterize the dynamic properties of the sensor. Given the impossibility of carrying out the full scale experimental outburst, the sensor was tested during the methane and coal dust explosions in the testing gallery at KD Barbara. The obtained results proved that the applied solutions have been appropriate.展开更多
We here report a high system detection efficiency(SDE)superconducting single-photon detector(SSPD)at 2μm wavelength.The device integrates a SiO_(2)/Ta_(2)O_(5)distributed Bragg reflector(DBR)and a sandwich-structured...We here report a high system detection efficiency(SDE)superconducting single-photon detector(SSPD)at 2μm wavelength.The device integrates a SiO_(2)/Ta_(2)O_(5)distributed Bragg reflector(DBR)and a sandwich-structured double-layer NbN nanowire to enhance the optical absorption efficiency.A cold development technique is implemented to optimize the superconducting nanowires with sub-40-nm linewidths,thus enhancing the intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE).The fabricated SSPD shows an SDE exceeding 90% at 2μm wavelength.Moreover,the detector allows an operational working temperature of 2.2 K provided by a compact GM cryo-cooler.This detector delivers excellent performance at the 2μm wavelength,and its optimized structural design implies promising potential for extending detection toward longer infrared bands.It thus holds value for advancing high-sensitivity quantum technologies,mid-infrared optical communications,and dark matter detection research.展开更多
On-chip superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)are gaining traction in integrated quantum photonics due to their exceptional performance and the elimination of fiber coupling loss.However,off-chip hig...On-chip superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)are gaining traction in integrated quantum photonics due to their exceptional performance and the elimination of fiber coupling loss.However,off-chip high-rejection filters are commonly required to remove the intense pump light employed in quantum states generation,thus remaining the obstacle for embedding SNSPDs into quantum photonic circuits.Here,we explore the integration of SNSPDs with passive pump rejection filters,achieved by cascaded silicon Bragg gratings,on a single substrate.Serving as an entanglement receiver chip,the integrated components show a system detection efficiency of 20.1%and a pump rejection ratio of approximately 56 dB.We successfully verify energy-time entangled photon pairs from a microring resonator with raw visibilities of 92.85%±5.95%and 91.91%±7.34%under two nonorthogonal bases,with use of standard fiber wavelength demultiplexers.Our results pave the way for entanglement resource distribution,offering a promising approach toward the construction of large-scale quantum photonic systems.展开更多
We present an 8×8 superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD)array that addresses the trade-off between detection efficiency and count rates in large-area devices.The SNSPD array employs a distributed ...We present an 8×8 superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD)array that addresses the trade-off between detection efficiency and count rates in large-area devices.The SNSPD array employs a distributed nanowire architecture and a polarization-insensitive optical cavity,when coupled with a 105-μm multimode fiber,achieves a system detection efficiency of 75%at 1064 nm with a count rate of 945 MHz at 3 dB compression and an average timing jitter of<100 ps.This design offers a scalable solution for high-speed photon counting with large-area detection and multimode compatibility.展开更多
In this study,we investigate the impact of substrates with distributed Bragg reflectors(DBRs)on the proximity effect during the fabrication of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)using electron bea...In this study,we investigate the impact of substrates with distributed Bragg reflectors(DBRs)on the proximity effect during the fabrication of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)using electron beam lithography.We compare the linewidth compression and line edge roughness of nanowires prepared on three different DBRs substrates.Additionally,we characterize the variations in switching current(I_(sw))and intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE)at a 2.2-K temperature.The results show that when the substrates are composed of low atomic number materials,such as Si and SiO2,the proximity effect is significantly mitigated.As a consequence,the lithography quality of nanowires is effectively improved,thus enhancing the IDE of SNSPDs.This study is expected to provide new insights into the fabrication of SNSPDs and lay the foundation for the preparation of high-performance and high-uniformity large-area devices.展开更多
Recently,a Rydberg atom-based mixer was developed to measure the phase of a radio frequency(RF)field.The phase of the signal RF(SIG RF)field is down-converted directly to the phase of a beat signal created by the pres...Recently,a Rydberg atom-based mixer was developed to measure the phase of a radio frequency(RF)field.The phase of the signal RF(SIG RF)field is down-converted directly to the phase of a beat signal created by the presence of a local RF(LO RF)field.In this study,we propose that the Rydberg atom-based mixer can be converted to an all-optical phase detector by amplitude modulation(AM)of the LO RF field;that is,the phase of the SIG RF field is related to both the amplitude and phase of the beat signal.When the AM frequency of the LO RF field is the same as the frequency of the beat signal,the beat signal will further interfere with the AM of the LO RF field inside the atom,and then the amplitude of the beat signal is related to the phase of the SIG RF field.The amplitude of the beat signal and the phase of the SIG RF field show a linear relationship within the range of 0 toπ/2 when the phase of the AM is set with a differenceπ/4 from the phase of the LO RF field.The minimum phase resolution can be as small as 0.6°by optimizing the experimental conditions according to a simple theoretical model.This study will expand and contribute to the development of RF measurement devices based on Rydberg atoms.展开更多
基金the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2023ZD0300100)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2023YFB3809600 and 2023YFC3007801)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62301543 and U24A20320)the Shanghai Sailing Program(Grant No.21YF1455700).
文摘Conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)have been typically limited in their applications due to their size,weight,and power consumption,which confine their use to laboratory settings.However,with the rapid development of remote imaging,sensing technologies,and long-range quantum communication with fewer topographical constraints,the demand for high-efficiency single-photon detectors integrated with avionic platforms is rapidly growing.We herein designed and manufactured the first drone-based SNSPD system with a system detection efficiency(SDE)as high as 91.8%.This drone-based system incorporates high-performance NbTiN SNSPDs,a self-developed miniature liquid helium dewar,and custom-built integrated electrical setups,making it capable of being launched in complex topographical conditions.Such a drone-based SNSPD system may open the use of SNSPDs for applications that demand high SDE in complex environments.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No 2011CBA00304the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 60836001 and 61174084the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program under Grant No 20131089314
文摘Increasing the detection efficiency （DE） is a hot issue in the development of the superconducting nanowire single photon detector （SNSPD）. In this work, a cavity-integrated structure coupled to the SNSPD is used to enhance the light absorption of nanowire. Ultra-thin Nb films are successfully prepared by magnetron sputtering, which are used to fabricate Nb/Al SNSPD with the curve of lOOnm and the square area of 4 × 4μm2 by sputtering and the lift-off method. To characterize the optical and electrical performance of the cavity-integrated SNSPD, a reliable cryogenic research system is built up based on a He3 system. To satisfy the need of light coupling, a packaging structure with collimator is conducted. Both DE and the dark count rates increase with lb. It is also found that the DE of SNSPD with cavities can be up to 0.17% at the temperature of 0.7K under the infrared light of 1550nm, which is obviously higher than that of the SNSPD directly fabricated upon silicon without any cavity structure.
基金Project supported by the National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2017YFA0304003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1831202,U1731119,U1931123,11773083,and 11873099)+1 种基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.QYZDJ-SSW-SLH043 and GJJSTD20180003)Jiangsu Province,China(Grant No.BRA2020411).
文摘Optical superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES)has been widely used in quantum information,biological imaging,and fluorescence microscopy owing to its high quantum efficiency,low dark count,and photon number resolving capability.The temperature sensitivity(α_(I))and current sensitivity(β_(I))are important parameters for optical TESs,which are generally extracted from the complex impedance.Here we present a method to extractα_(I)andβ_(I)based on a two-fluid model and compare the calculated current-voltage curves,pulse response,and theoretical energy resolution with the measured ones.This method shows qualitative agreement that is suitable for further optimization of optical TESs.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant Nos 2011CBA00100 and 2011CBA00200the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 11227904 and 61101012+1 种基金the National High-Technology ResearchDevelopment Program of China under Grant No 2011AA010204the Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Techniques for Manipulating Electromagnetic Waves
文摘Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors （SNSPDs） with a composite optical structure composed of phase-grating and optical cavity structures are designed to enhance both the system detection efficiency and the response bandwidth. Numerical simulation by the finite-difference time-domain method shows that the photon absorption capacity of SNSPDs with a composite optical structure can be enhanced significantly by adjusting the parameters of the phase-grating and optical cavity structures at multiple frequency bands. The absorption capacity of the superconducting nanowires reaches 70%, 72%, 60.73%, 61.7%, 41.2%, and 46.5% at wavelengths of 684, 850, 732, 924, 1256, and 1426nm, respectively. The use of a composite optical structure reduces the total filling factor of superconducting nanowires to only 0.25, decreases the kinetic inductance of SNSPDs, and improves the count rates.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFA0304000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.61671438 and 61827823)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality,China(Grant No.16JC1400402)Program of Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader,China(Grant No.18XD1404600)the Joint Research Fund in Astronomy(Grant No.U1631240)under Cooperative Agreement between the NSFC and the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their excellent detection performance;however, the underlying physics of the detection process is still unclear.In this study, we investigate the wavelength dependence of the intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE) for NbN SNSPDs.We fabricate various NbN SNSPDs with linewidths ranging from 30 nm to 140 nm.Then, for each detector, the IDE curves as a function of bias current for different incident photon wavelengths of 510–1700 nm are obtained.From the IDE curves, the relations between photon energy and bias current at a certain IDE are extracted.The results exhibit clear nonlinear energy–current relations for the NbN detectors, indicating that a detection model only considering quasiparticle diffusion is unsuitable for the meander-type NbN-based SNSPDs.Our work provides additional experimental data on SNSPD detection mechanism and may serve as an interesting reference for further investigation.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFA0718800)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(No.2023NSFSC0993)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52021001,U22A20132 and 12074056)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2021JDTD0010).
文摘The fabrication of high-quality YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7)−δ(YBCO)nanowires has garnered significant attention in the field of high-temperature superconductivity due to their potential applications in quantum communication,deep space exploration,and various other fields.Cl_(2)-assisted reactive ion etching(RIE)stands out as a more effective and efficient method for patterning scalable thin films.However,neither RIE nor high-density RIE has achieved superconducting YBCO nanowires with a width smaller than 3μm.Here,we delve into the factors that limit the line width of Cl_(2)-assisted inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching(ICP-RIE)processing and the method to elimiate them.Our approach involves utilizing Cl_(2)/Ar as etching gas and incorporating a specialized vacuum heating process after etching.Our experimental results demonstrate the successful realization of 10 nm-thick YBCO nanowires with widths as small as 0.15μm,exhibiting excellent performance in terms of their intrinsic superconducting properties.The mechanism is evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)analysis in comparison of nanowires with and without heating treatment,in which the residual Cl_(2) on the sidewall of nanowires evaporates and oxidizes Cu^(+)back into Cu^(2+)in an unetched state.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2010CB923202)
文摘The performance of single-photon detectors can be enhanced by using nano-antenna. The characteristics of the superconducting nano-wire single-photon detector with cavity plus anti-reflect coating and specially designed nano~ antenna is analysed. The photon collection efficiency of the detector is enhanced without damaging the detector＇s speed, thus getting rid of the dilemma of speed and efficiency. The characteristics of nano-antenna are discussed, such as the position and the effect of the active area, and the best result is given. The photon collection efficiency is increased by 92 times compared with that of existing detectors.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61605248)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2013CB338002)。
文摘High detection efficiency and low intrinsic dark count rate are two advantages of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors(SNSPDs).However,the stray photons penetrated into the fiber would cause the extrinsic dark count rate,owing to the free running mode of SNSPDs.In order to improve the performance of SNSPDs in realistic scenarios,stray photons should be investigated and suppression methods should be adopted.In this study,we demonstrate the pulsegated mode,with 500 kHz gating frequency,of a commercial SNSPD system for suppressing the response of stray photons about three orders of magnitude than its free-running counterpart on the extreme test conditions.When we push the gating frequency to 8 MHz,the dark count rate still keeps under 4%of free-running mode.In experiments,the intrinsic dark count rate is also suppressed to 4.56×10^(-2)counts per second with system detection efficiency of 76.4372%.Furthermore,the time-correlated single-photon counting analysis also approves the validity of our mode in suppressing the responses of stray photons.
基金Project supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11653001 and 11653004)。
文摘Multiplexing technologies based on superconducting quantum interference devices(SQUIDs) are crucial to cryogenic readout of superconducting transition-edge sensor(TES) arrays. Demands for large-scale TES arrays promote the development of multiplexing technologies towards large multiplexing factors and low readout noise. The development of multiplexing technologies also facilitates new applications of TES arrays in a wide range of frequencies. Here we summarize different types of SQUID-based multiplexing technologies including time-division multiplexing, code-division multiplexing, frequency-division multiplexing and microwave SQUID multiplexing. The advances and parameter constraints of each multiplexing technology are also discussed.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No 2014CB339800the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 61521001,11173015 and 11227904+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Key Laboratory of Advanced Techniques for Manipulating Electromagnetic Waves of Jiangsu Province
文摘Terahertz （THz） direct detectors based on superconducting niobium nitride （NbN） hot electron bolometers （HEBs） with microwave （MW） biasing are studied. The MW is used to bias the HEB to the optimum point and to readout the impedance changes caused by the incident THz signals. Compared with the thermal biasing method, this method would be more promising in large scale array with simple readout. The used NbN HEB has an excellent performance as heterodyne detector with the double sideband noise temperature （T N） of 403K working at 4.2K and 0.65THz. As a result, the noise equivalent power of 1.5pW/Hz 1/2 and the response time of 64ps are obtained for the direct detectors based on the NbN HEBs and working at 4.2K and 0.65THz.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11653001 and 11653004)。
文摘Superconducting transition edge sensor(TES)bolometers require superconducting films to have controllable transition temperatures T_(c)in different practical applications.The value of T_(c)strongly affects thermal conductivity and thermal noise performance of TES detectors.Al films doped with Mn(Al-Mn)of different concentrations can accomplish tunable T_(c)A magnetron sputtering machine is used to deposit the Al-Mn films in this study.Fabrication parameters including sputtering pressure and annealing process are studied and their influences on T_(c)and superconducting transition widthΔT_(c)are optimized.The Al-Mn films withΔT_(c)below 1.0 mK for T_(c)in a range of 520 mK-580 mK are successfully fabricated.
基金supported by the National major scientific research instrument development project(No.11927805)National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientists Fund(No.12005134)+2 种基金Shanghai-XFEL Beamline Project(SBP)(No.31011505505885920161A2101001)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(No.2017SHZDZX02)Shanghai Pujiang Program(No.20PJ1410900).
文摘A transition edge sensor(TES)is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature,and combined with a high-Z metal of a certain thickness,it can realize high-energy resolution measurements of particles such as X-rays.X-rays with energies below 10 keV have a weak penetrating ability,hence,only gold or bismuth of a few micrometers in thickness can guarantee a quantum efficiency higher than 70%.Therefore,the entire structure of the TES X-ray detector in this energy range can be realized using a microfabrication process.However,for X-rays or γ-rays from 10 keV to 200 keV,submillimeter absorber layers are required,which cannot be realized using the microfabrication process.This paper first briefly introduces a set of TES X-ray detectors and their auxiliary systems,and then focuses on the introduction of the TES γ-ray detector with an absorber based on a submillimeter lead-tin alloy sphere.The detector achieved a quantum efficiency above 70% near 100 keV and an energy resolution of approximately 161.5 eV at 59.5 keV.
文摘Outbursts of methane and rocks are, similarly to rock bursts, the biggest hazards in deep mines and are equally difficult to predict. The violent process of the outburst itself, along with the scale and range of hazards following the rapid discharge of gas and rocks, requires solutions which would enable quick and unambiguous detection of the hazard, immediate power supply cut-off and evacuation of personnel from potentially hazardous areas. For this purpose, an integrated outburst detector was developed. Assumed functions of the sensor which was equipped with three measuring and detection elements： a chamber for constant measurement of methane concentration, pressure sensor and microphone. Tests of the sensor model were carried out to estimate the parameters which characterize the dynamic properties of the sensor. Given the impossibility of carrying out the full scale experimental outburst, the sensor was tested during the methane and coal dust explosions in the testing gallery at KD Barbara. The obtained results proved that the applied solutions have been appropriate.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA0520403)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(Grant No.2019SHZDZX01)+1 种基金Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2023ZD0300100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U24A20320 and 62401554)。
文摘We here report a high system detection efficiency(SDE)superconducting single-photon detector(SSPD)at 2μm wavelength.The device integrates a SiO_(2)/Ta_(2)O_(5)distributed Bragg reflector(DBR)and a sandwich-structured double-layer NbN nanowire to enhance the optical absorption efficiency.A cold development technique is implemented to optimize the superconducting nanowires with sub-40-nm linewidths,thus enhancing the intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE).The fabricated SSPD shows an SDE exceeding 90% at 2μm wavelength.Moreover,the detector allows an operational working temperature of 2.2 K provided by a compact GM cryo-cooler.This detector delivers excellent performance at the 2μm wavelength,and its optimized structural design implies promising potential for extending detection toward longer infrared bands.It thus holds value for advancing high-sensitivity quantum technologies,mid-infrared optical communications,and dark matter detection research.
基金Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(2023ZD0300100)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2019SHZDZX01)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(61971408,12033007,92365210,U24A20320)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2020241,2021230)。
文摘On-chip superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)are gaining traction in integrated quantum photonics due to their exceptional performance and the elimination of fiber coupling loss.However,off-chip high-rejection filters are commonly required to remove the intense pump light employed in quantum states generation,thus remaining the obstacle for embedding SNSPDs into quantum photonic circuits.Here,we explore the integration of SNSPDs with passive pump rejection filters,achieved by cascaded silicon Bragg gratings,on a single substrate.Serving as an entanglement receiver chip,the integrated components show a system detection efficiency of 20.1%and a pump rejection ratio of approximately 56 dB.We successfully verify energy-time entangled photon pairs from a microring resonator with raw visibilities of 92.85%±5.95%and 91.91%±7.34%under two nonorthogonal bases,with use of standard fiber wavelength demultiplexers.Our results pave the way for entanglement resource distribution,offering a promising approach toward the construction of large-scale quantum photonic systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U24A20320 and 62401554)the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(No.2023ZD0300100)+1 种基金the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(No.2019SHZDZX01)the Shanghai Sailing Program(No.22YF1456500)。
文摘We present an 8×8 superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD)array that addresses the trade-off between detection efficiency and count rates in large-area devices.The SNSPD array employs a distributed nanowire architecture and a polarization-insensitive optical cavity,when coupled with a 105-μm multimode fiber,achieves a system detection efficiency of 75%at 1064 nm with a count rate of 945 MHz at 3 dB compression and an average timing jitter of<100 ps.This design offers a scalable solution for high-speed photon counting with large-area detection and multimode compatibility.
基金Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(No.2023ZD0300100)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2019SHZDZX01)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U24A20320,and 12033007)for their financial support.
文摘In this study,we investigate the impact of substrates with distributed Bragg reflectors(DBRs)on the proximity effect during the fabrication of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)using electron beam lithography.We compare the linewidth compression and line edge roughness of nanowires prepared on three different DBRs substrates.Additionally,we characterize the variations in switching current(I_(sw))and intrinsic detection efficiency(IDE)at a 2.2-K temperature.The results show that when the substrates are composed of low atomic number materials,such as Si and SiO2,the proximity effect is significantly mitigated.As a consequence,the lithography quality of nanowires is effectively improved,thus enhancing the IDE of SNSPDs.This study is expected to provide new insights into the fabrication of SNSPDs and lay the foundation for the preparation of high-performance and high-uniformity large-area devices.
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2017YFA0304900 and 2017YFA0402300)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.1212014)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11604334,11604177,and U2031125)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDPB08-3)the Open Research Fund Program of the State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics(Grant No.KF201807)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,and Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS.
文摘Recently,a Rydberg atom-based mixer was developed to measure the phase of a radio frequency(RF)field.The phase of the signal RF(SIG RF)field is down-converted directly to the phase of a beat signal created by the presence of a local RF(LO RF)field.In this study,we propose that the Rydberg atom-based mixer can be converted to an all-optical phase detector by amplitude modulation(AM)of the LO RF field;that is,the phase of the SIG RF field is related to both the amplitude and phase of the beat signal.When the AM frequency of the LO RF field is the same as the frequency of the beat signal,the beat signal will further interfere with the AM of the LO RF field inside the atom,and then the amplitude of the beat signal is related to the phase of the SIG RF field.The amplitude of the beat signal and the phase of the SIG RF field show a linear relationship within the range of 0 toπ/2 when the phase of the AM is set with a differenceπ/4 from the phase of the LO RF field.The minimum phase resolution can be as small as 0.6°by optimizing the experimental conditions according to a simple theoretical model.This study will expand and contribute to the development of RF measurement devices based on Rydberg atoms.
