Coherent detection of weak signals with superconducting nanowire single photon detector at the telecommunication wavelength

M. Shcherbatenko; Y. Lobanov; A. Semenov; V. Kovalyuk; A. Korneev; R. Ozhegov; N. Kaurova; B. Voronov; G. Goltsman

doi:10.1117/12.2267724

15 May 2017 Coherent detection of weak signals with superconducting nanowire single photon detector at the telecommunication wavelength

M. Shcherbatenko, Y. Lobanov, A. Semenov, V. Kovalyuk, A. Korneev, R. Ozhegov, N. Kaurova, B. Voronov, G. Goltsman

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10229, Photon Counting Applications 2017; 102290G (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2267724
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2017, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Achievement of the ultimate sensitivity along with a high spectral resolution is one of the frequently addressed problems, as the complication of the applied and fundamental scientific tasks being explored is growing up gradually. In our work, we have investigated performance of a superconducting nanowire photon-counting detector operating in the coherent mode for detection of weak signals at the telecommunication wavelength. Quantum-noise limited sensitivity of the detector was ensured by the nature of the photon-counting detection and restricted by the quantum efficiency of the detector only. Spectral resolution given by the heterodyne technique and was defined by the linewidth and stability of the Local Oscillator (LO). Response bandwidth was found to coincide with the detector’s pulse width, which, in turn, could be controlled by the nanowire length. In addition, the system noise bandwidth was shown to be governed by the electronics/lab equipment, and the detector noise bandwidth is predicted to depend on its jitter. As have been demonstrated, a very small amount of the LO power (of the order of a few picowatts down to hundreds of femtowatts) was required for sufficient detection of the test signal, and eventual optimization could lead to further reduction of the LO power required, which would perfectly suit for the foreseen development of receiver matrices and the need for detection of ultra-low signals at a level of less-than-one-photon per second.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

M. Shcherbatenko, Y. Lobanov, A. Semenov, V. Kovalyuk, A. Korneev, R. Ozhegov, N. Kaurova, B. Voronov, and G. Goltsman "Coherent detection of weak signals with superconducting nanowire single photon detector at the telecommunication wavelength", Proc. SPIE 10229, Photon Counting Applications 2017, 102290G (15 May 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2267724

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available