Jitter in photon-number-resolved detection by superconducting nanowires

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sidorova, Mariia, Schapeler, Timon, Semenov, Alexej D., Schlue, Fabian, Stefszky, Michael, Brecht, Benjamin, Silberhorn, Christine, Bartley, Tim J.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866912561362894848
author Sidorova, Mariia
Schapeler, Timon
Semenov, Alexej D.
Schlue, Fabian
Stefszky, Michael
Brecht, Benjamin
Silberhorn, Christine
Bartley, Tim J.
author_facet Sidorova, Mariia
Schapeler, Timon
Semenov, Alexej D.
Schlue, Fabian
Stefszky, Michael
Brecht, Benjamin
Silberhorn, Christine
Bartley, Tim J.
contents By analyzing the physics of multi-photon absorption in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), we identify physical components of jitter. From this, we formulate a quantitative physical model of the multi-photon detector response which combines local detection mechanism and local fluctuations (hotspot formation and intrinsic jitter) with thermoelectric dynamics of resistive domains. Our model provides an excellent description of the arrival-time histogram of a commercial SNSPD across several orders of magnitude, both in arrival-time probability and across mean photon number. This is achieved with just three fitting parameters: the scaling of the mean arrival time of voltage response pulses, as well as the Gaussian and exponential jitter components. Our findings have important implications for photon-number-resolving detector design, as well as applications requiring low jitter such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR).
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_17146
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Jitter in photon-number-resolved detection by superconducting nanowires
Sidorova, Mariia
Schapeler, Timon
Semenov, Alexej D.
Schlue, Fabian
Stefszky, Michael
Brecht, Benjamin
Silberhorn, Christine
Bartley, Tim J.
Quantum Physics
Superconductivity
Instrumentation and Detectors
By analyzing the physics of multi-photon absorption in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), we identify physical components of jitter. From this, we formulate a quantitative physical model of the multi-photon detector response which combines local detection mechanism and local fluctuations (hotspot formation and intrinsic jitter) with thermoelectric dynamics of resistive domains. Our model provides an excellent description of the arrival-time histogram of a commercial SNSPD across several orders of magnitude, both in arrival-time probability and across mean photon number. This is achieved with just three fitting parameters: the scaling of the mean arrival time of voltage response pulses, as well as the Gaussian and exponential jitter components. Our findings have important implications for photon-number-resolving detector design, as well as applications requiring low jitter such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR).
title Jitter in photon-number-resolved detection by superconducting nanowires
topic Quantum Physics
Superconductivity
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.17146