Quantum light detection in high-temperature superconducting nanowires
Journal article, 2025
Detection of light quanta in superconducting nano- and microwires is the key enabling technology for fields ranging from quantum optics and quantum photonics to emerging applications like dark matter searches. However, recent progress in accessing lower photon energies or utilizing high-temperature superconductors reveals substantial gaps in understanding quantum detection physics and calibrating photonic quantum systems. To bridge these gaps, we develop a universal model that incorporates spatially and energy-resolved detection physics, essential for photonic quantum sensors. We validate our approach using modern MgB2 nanowire detectors, retrieving their detection threshold and its intrinsic energy blur, by disentangling the complex statistics of single- and multi-photon detection. Our model can augment quantum detector tomography by embedding physical constraints, and it offers a practical tool for modeling and engineering a broad class of detectors under diverse operating conditions.
Author
Mariia Sidorova
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Humboldt University of Berlin
A. Semenov
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Humboldt University of Berlin
A. N. Vetlugin
Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies
C. Soci
Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies
Ilya Charaev
University of Zürich
Andreas Schilling
University of Zürich
Serguei Cherednichenko
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
Npj Nanophotonics
2948216X (eISSN)
Vol. 2 1 38Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1038/s44310-025-00084-3