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Main Authors: Ding, Chaomeng, Zhang, Xingyu, Xiong, Jiamin, Xiao, You, Zhang, Tianzhu, Huang, Jia, Xu, Hongxin, Liu, Xiaoyu, You, Lixing, Wang, Zhen, Li, Hao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.02202
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author Ding, Chaomeng
Zhang, Xingyu
Xiong, Jiamin
Xiao, You
Zhang, Tianzhu
Huang, Jia
Xu, Hongxin
Liu, Xiaoyu
You, Lixing
Wang, Zhen
Li, Hao
author_facet Ding, Chaomeng
Zhang, Xingyu
Xiong, Jiamin
Xiao, You
Zhang, Tianzhu
Huang, Jia
Xu, Hongxin
Liu, Xiaoyu
You, Lixing
Wang, Zhen
Li, Hao
contents Efficiently distinguishing photon numbers is a crucial yet challenging technology for various quantum information and quantum metrology applications. While superconducting transition edge sensors offer good photon-number-resolving (PNR) capabilities, they are hampered by low detection speed, timing jitter, and complex cooling and readout requirements. In this work, we present a significant advancement toward achieving high-fidelity PNR single-photon detectors. The unique twin-layer configuration of superconducting nanowire atop a dielectric mirror ensures the near-unity detection efficiency. The segmented design enables spatial multiplexing, establishing a mapping relationship between pulse amplitude and registered photons. The fabricated detector exhibits impressive performance metrics, including a single-photon system detection efficiency (SDE) of ~ 98% at a dark count rate of 20 cps and photon-number resolution capability up to 32. Further characterization through detector tomography reveals high fidelities for two-, three-, and four-photon events, approximately 87%,73%, and 40% respectively. Moreover, the detector operates at a high count rate of 41 MHz at 3dB-SDE, with a low timing jitter of as low as 40 ps. With its near-unity efficiency, high photon-number resolution, low dark count rate and fast detection speed, we expect significant interest in these detectors, promising substantial benefits for weak light detection and optical quantum information applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_02202
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Photon-number-resolving single-photon detector with a system detection efficiency of 98% and photon-number resolution of 32
Ding, Chaomeng
Zhang, Xingyu
Xiong, Jiamin
Xiao, You
Zhang, Tianzhu
Huang, Jia
Xu, Hongxin
Liu, Xiaoyu
You, Lixing
Wang, Zhen
Li, Hao
Quantum Physics
Optics
Efficiently distinguishing photon numbers is a crucial yet challenging technology for various quantum information and quantum metrology applications. While superconducting transition edge sensors offer good photon-number-resolving (PNR) capabilities, they are hampered by low detection speed, timing jitter, and complex cooling and readout requirements. In this work, we present a significant advancement toward achieving high-fidelity PNR single-photon detectors. The unique twin-layer configuration of superconducting nanowire atop a dielectric mirror ensures the near-unity detection efficiency. The segmented design enables spatial multiplexing, establishing a mapping relationship between pulse amplitude and registered photons. The fabricated detector exhibits impressive performance metrics, including a single-photon system detection efficiency (SDE) of ~ 98% at a dark count rate of 20 cps and photon-number resolution capability up to 32. Further characterization through detector tomography reveals high fidelities for two-, three-, and four-photon events, approximately 87%,73%, and 40% respectively. Moreover, the detector operates at a high count rate of 41 MHz at 3dB-SDE, with a low timing jitter of as low as 40 ps. With its near-unity efficiency, high photon-number resolution, low dark count rate and fast detection speed, we expect significant interest in these detectors, promising substantial benefits for weak light detection and optical quantum information applications.
title Photon-number-resolving single-photon detector with a system detection efficiency of 98% and photon-number resolution of 32
topic Quantum Physics
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.02202