Proposal for calibration of a single-photon counting detector without the need of input photon flux calibration

Published

April 4, 2016

Author(s)

Thomas Gerrits

Abstract

A method for calibration of single-photon detectors without the need of input photon flux calibration is presented. The method relies on the use of waveguide-coupled single photon detectors and a series of photon-counting measurements using a single-photon source. It is shown that the method can yield relative uncertainties of less than 1% including counting statistics and fiber splice loss uncertainties with a total measurement time of about 1 h under the assumptions that the fractional losses of the waveguide-coupled detectors are known or zero and the loss along the waveguide is constant. It is also shown that the fractional losses of the waveguide-coupled detectors can be determined if they are equal. However, in this case an input photon flux calibration is required.

Citation

Optics Express

Volume

18

Issue

054014

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/18/5/054014

Keywords

single photon detector calibration, waveguide-coupled single photon detectors, superconducting single-photon detectors

Citation

Gerrits, T. (2016), Proposal for calibration of a single-photon counting detector without the need of input photon flux calibration, Optics Express, [online], https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/18/5/054014 (Accessed October 13, 2025)