Single-photon detection using large-scale high-temperature MgB2 sensors at 20 K
Journal article, 2024
Ultra-fast single-photon detectors with high current density and operating temperature can benefit space and ground applications, including quantum optical communication systems, lightweight cryogenics for space crafts, and medical use. Here we demonstrate magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin-film superconducting microwires capable of single-photon detection at 1.55 μm optical wavelength. We used helium ions to alter the properties of MgB2, resulting in microwire-based detectors exhibiting single-photon sensitivity across a broad temperature range of up to 20 K, and detection efficiency saturation for 1 μm wide microwires at 3.7 K. Linearity of detection rate vs incident power was preserved up to at least 100 Mcps. Despite the large active area of up to 400 × 400 μm2, the reset time was found to be as low as ~ 1 ns. Our research provides possibilities for breaking the operating temperature limit and maximum single-pixel count rate, expanding the detector area, and raises inquiries about the fundamental mechanisms of single-photon detection in high-critical-temperature superconductors.
Author
Ilya Charaev
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
University of Zürich
Emma K. Batson
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Serguei Cherednichenko
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
Kate Reidy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Vladimir Drakinskiy
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
Yang Yu
Raith GmbH
Samuel Lara Avila
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics
Joachim D. Thomsen
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Marco Colangelo
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Northeastern University
Francesca Incalza
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Konstantin Ilin
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Andreas Schilling
University of Zürich
Karl K. Berggren
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Nature Communications
2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)
Vol. 15 1 3973Fiber Integrated MgB2 Single Photon Detectors
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2019-04345), 2020-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.
Photon counting superconducting detectors for deep space laser communication
Swedish National Space Board (198/16), 2017-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.
Subject Categories
Signal Processing
Condensed Matter Physics
DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-47353-x
PubMed
38729944