Subcentimeter depth resolution using a single-photon counting time-of-flight laser ranging system at 1550 nm wavelength

We demonstrate subcentimeter depth profiling at a stand off distance of 330 m using a time-of-flight approach based on time-correlated single-photon counting. For the first time to our knowledge, the photon-counting time-of-flight technique was demonstrated at a wavelength of 1550 nm using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The performance achieved suggests that a system using superconducting detectors has the potential for low-light-level and eye-safe operation. The system's instrumental response was 70 ps full width at half-maximum, which meant that 1 cm surface-to-surface resolution could be achieved by locating the centroids of each return signal. A depth resolution of 4 mm was achieved by employing an optimized signal-processing algorithm based on a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo method.     

超导纳米线单光子探测器

利用磁控溅射、电子束光刻和反应离子刻蚀等微加工技术,开展了超导纳米线单光子探测器(SNSPD)的研究.通过对SNSPD的设计和制备工艺参数的优化,成功制备出了高质量的SNSPD.单光子检测实验表明,制备的SNSPD对660 nm波长的光信号,系统检测效率可达30%,对1550 nm波长光信号,最大系统检测效率为4.2%.在平均暗计数小于10 c/s的情况下,系统检测效率大于20%(660 nm)和3%(1550 nm). 关键词： 单光子 氮化铌 纳米线 探测器     

单光子探测技术

近年来,以量子密钥分配为代表的各种量子信息技术应用获得了飞速发展,这些应用对单光子探测器的性能提出了非常苛刻的要求,以光电倍增管和雪崩光电二极管为代表的传统单光子探测器件已经无法满足需求。在此背景下,出现了以超导单光子探测器为代表的新型低温单光子探测器件,其性能比现有商用单光子探测器有了本质性的提升。本文综述了迄今为止各种类型的单光子探测器,并指出各自在量子信息技术应用中的优势和不足之处以及发展方向。     

Photon-counting chirped amplitude modulation lidar system using superconducting nanowire single-photon detector at 1550-nm wavelength

We demonstrate a photon-counting chirped amplitude modulation(CAM) light detection and ranging(lidar) system incorporating a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD) and operated at a wavelength of 1550 nm.The distance accuracy of the lidar system was determined by the CAM bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) of an intermediate frequency(IF) signal. Owing to a short dead time(10 ns) and negligible dark count rate(70 Hz) of the SNSPD, the obtained IF signal attained an SNR of 42 d B and the direct distance accuracy was improved to 3 mm when the modulation bandwidth of the CAM signal was 240 MHz and the modulation period was 1 ms.     

Performance of superconducting nanowire single-photon detector with the fan coupling antenna array

The performance of superconducting nanowire single-photon detector （SNSPD） involving niobium nitride with the fan coupling antenna array is analyzed. The SNSPD has a high detection efficiency and counting rate. Hydrogen silsesquioxane and niobium nitride are filled in the gold grating deposited on the substrate in which the fan coupling antenna arrays are embedded. By changing the position of the fan coupling antenna array, the maximum area of optical intensity is obtained and the photon collection efficiency is increased by 26.5 times. The detection efficiency of SNSPD is improved without changing the detection speed. These parameters are important for designing a practical single-photon detector,     

超导单光子探测器件直流特性研究

超导单光子探测技术是基于超薄超导薄膜的非平衡态热电子效应的一种新型的单光子探测方法。超导单光子探测器(SNSPD)的计数率可达到GHz,时间抖动小于100ps,因而在未来量子通信系统中有着广阔的应用前景。介绍了NbN超导单光子探测器件的工作原理和器件超导性能测试系统;测试了超导单光子探测器件的电阻-温度、电流-电压等特性。并对测试结果进行了分析和讨论。     

Highly efficient single-photon detection at communication wavelengths by use of upconversion in reverse-proton-exchanged periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguides

Conventional single-photon detectors at communication wavelengths suffer from low quantum efficiencies and large dark counts. We present a single-photon detection system, operating at communication wavelengths, based on guided-wave frequency upconversion in a nonlinear crystal with an overall system detection efficiency (upconversion + detection) exceeding 46% at 1.56 microm. This system consists of a fiber-pigtailed reverse-proton-exchanged periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguide device in conjunction with a silicon-based single-photon counting module.     

超导单光子探测技术

单光子探测是弱光测量技术的核心,在量子信息、物理、生物、化学和天文学领域具有关键性的作用。传统以光电倍增管或雪崩二极管为基础的单光子探测器的低灵敏度和高暗计数限制了信噪比的提高,低计数率限制了测量速度和动态范围。本文综述了以超导材料作为光敏感器件的单光子探测技术,其量子效率、暗计数率和计数率远高于传统的单光子探测器,它们的出现势必给单光子测量相关学科带来巨大影响。     

3D photon counting imaging at 1550 nm with 1.5-GHz sine-wave-gated InGaAs/InP GAPD

We demonstrated a 3D laser imaging system at 1550 nm with a 1.5-GHz sine-wave gated Geiger-mode InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode (APD). An optical fiber bundle with 100 individual fiber outputs was implemented at the focal plane of the telescope, providing a 2.5-mrad imaging view. The system used single-pixel near-infrared single-photon detector to measure photons at fiber outputs instead of a photon counting array. The 1.5-GHz gated Geiger-mode InGaAs/InP APD with a timing jitter of 290 ps was operated in quasi-continuous mode with detection efficiency of ∼4.3%. We achieved higher than 6-cm surface-to-surface resolution at single-photon level, showing a potential of low-energy and eye-safe laser imaging system for long-distance measurements.     

Crosstalk-free operation of multielement superconducting nanowire single-photon detector array integrated with single-flux-quantum circuit in a 0.1 W Gifford-McMahon cryocooler

We demonstrate the successful operation of a multielement superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SSPD) array integrated with a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) readout circuit in a compact 0.1 W Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. A time-resolved readout technique, where output signals from each element enter the SFQ readout circuit with finite time intervals, revealed crosstalk-free operation of the four-element SSPD array connected with the SFQ readout circuit. The timing jitter and the system detection efficiency were measured to be 50 ps and 11.4%, respectively, which were comparable to the performance of practical single-pixel SSPD systems.     

超导转变边沿单光子探测器原理与研究进展

量子信息技术近十多年来的快速发展对单光子探测器的性能提出了更高的要求,高性能单光子探测器也因此受到了更多的关注.与传统的单光子探测器相比,超导转变边沿(TES)单光子探测器在探测效率、能量分辨、光子数分辨和暗计数等方面具有突出优势.目前,超导TES单光子探测器已经被成功地应用在量子光学实验和量子密钥分配系统中,未来在量子信息技术等研究领域具有更广泛的应用.本文从超导TES单光子探测器的工作原理、制备流程、测试系统、主要性能指标以及研究现状和进展等方面对该探测器技术进行简要综述.     

Performance of a superconducting single photon detector with nano-antenna

<正>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 nanoantenna 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.     

Intrinsic timing jitter of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

We report on an experimental investigation of the timing jitter (TJ) in a fiber-coupled detection system based on a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). We used a picosecond pulsed laser and fiber delay lines to generate subsequent optical pulsed pairs in each period and measured the TJ between the pulses. Because only the interval time between two pulses in each period was interested, we did not need to know the absolute time of every pulse. Therefore, the TJ from laser and trigger signal can be removed. In order to estimate the intrinsic TJ of SNSPD, we analyzed the TJ caused by time distribution of optical pulse, electronic components, readout noise, kinetic inductance and dispersion in fiber channel. Finally, we obtained the intrinsic TJs for two kinds of detectors considering these impacts.     

Efficient and stable single-photon counting at 1.55 microm by intracavity frequency upconversion

A single-photon signal at 1.55 microm was converted to the visible region by sum-frequency mixing with a strong pumping beam at 1064 nm in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal placed in a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser cavity. As the intracavity pump laser could be automatically stabilized without cavity lock, robust long-term stability was demonstrated for single-photon frequency upconversion, with a conversion efficiency of 74.3%. Such a stable single-photon upconversion was demonstrated to be efficient and robust for single-photon counting at 1550 nm, and the corresponding background noise was measured at less than 420 x 10(3) s(-1).     

A Bright Single-Photon Source from Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond Nanowires

Single-photon flux is one of the crucial properties of nitrogen vacancy(NV) centers in diamond for its application in quantum information techniques. Here we fabricate diamond conical nanowires to enhance the single-photon count rate. Through the interaction between tightly confined optical mode in nanowires and NV centers, the single-photon lifetime is much shortened and the collection efficiency is enhanced. As a result, the detected single-photon rate can be at 564 kcps,and the total detection coefficient can be 0.8%,wich is much higher than that in bulk diamond. Such a nanowire single-photon device with high photon flux can be applied to improve the fidelity of quantum computation and the precision of quantum sensors.     

Internal cancellation of spikes using two avalanche photodiodes in series for single photon detection

<正>We propose a method of improving the performance of InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes by using two avalanche photodiodes in series as single photon detectors for 1550-nm wavelength.In this method,the raw single photon avalanche signals are not attenuated,thus a high signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained compared with the existing results.The performance of the scheme is investigated and the ratio of the dark count rate to the detection efficiency is obtained to be 1.3×10~(-4) at 213 K.     

氮化铌纳米线光学特性

氮化铌(NbN)纳米线是超导纳米线单光子探测器(SNSPD)常用的光敏材料,其光学性质是影响SNSPD性能的关键因素.本文结合实验数据和仿真结果,系统研究了多种NbN超导纳米线探测器器件结构的光学特性,表征了以下四种器件结构下的反射光谱以及透射光谱:1)双面热氧化硅衬底背面对光结构;2)双面SiN硅衬底背面对光结构;3)硅衬底上以金层+SiN缓冲层为反射镜的正面对光结构;4)以分布式布拉格反射镜(DBR)为衬底的正面对光结构.并在上述四种器件结构基础上,生长了不同厚度的NbN薄膜,观察不同厚度NbN薄膜的吸收效率.经分析,发现在不同器件结构下的最佳NbN厚度与光吸收率的关系如下:双面热氧化硅衬底上的NbN层在1606 nm处最大吸收率为91.7%,其余结构在最佳NbN厚度条件下吸收率都能达到99%以上.其中双面SiN的硅衬底结构中最大吸收率为99.3%, Au+SiN为99.8%, DBR为99.9%.最后,将DBR器件实测结果与仿真结果进行了差异性分析.这些结果对高效率SNSPD设计与研制具有指导意义.     

Photon-counting laser ranging with InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode in the passively quenched and 1-GHz sinusoidally gated

We experimentally studied photon-counting laser ranging at 1550 nm using InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode based single-photon detectors (SPDs). The SPDs operated in the passive quenching and 1-GHz sinusoidal gating Geiger modes, corresponding to continuous and quasi-continuous photon-counting ranging, respectively. Despite that the passively quenched SPD provided relatively high effective detection efficiency, quasi-continuous photon-counting ranging excelled the continuous one with fast acquisition speed and improved depth resolution due to the short deadtime and low timing jitter of the SPD in 1-GHz sinusoidally gated mode.     

在高于253 K温度下的1550 nm波长单光子探测实验

介绍了在高于253 K的温度下，实现红外单光子探测的实验.选用拉通电压较高的雪崩光电二极管（APD），设计制作了非线性限流技术保护高温工作的APD，利用半导体热电制冷器，在256.8K的温度下，实现了1550 nm波段的单光子探测实验.单光子探测的暗记数率为3.13×10－5 ns，在220 kHz/s的单光子脉冲速率下，探测效率为2.08%.     

Doped niobium superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

We designed and fabricated a special doped niobium (Nb*) superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) on MgO substrate. The superconductivity of this ultra-thin Nb* film was further improved by depositing an ultra-thin aluminum nitride protective layer on top. Compared with traditional Nb films, Nb* films present higher T _C and J _C. We investigated the dependence of the characteristics of devices, such as cut-off wavelength, response bandwidth, and temperature, on their geometrical dimensions. Results indicate that reduction in both the width and thickness of Nb* nanowires extended the cut-off wavelength and improved the sensitivity. The Nb* SNSPD (50 nm width and 4.5 nm thickness) exhibited single-photon sensitivities at 1,310, 1,550, and 2,010 nm. We also demonstrated an enhancement in the detection efficiency by a factor of 10 in its count rate by lowering the working temperature from 2.26 K to 315 mK.