A 64-pixel mid-infrared single-photon imager based on superconducting nanowire detectors

Published

January 25, 2024

Author(s)

Benedikt Hampel, Richard Mirin, Sae Woo Nam, Varun Verma

Abstract

A large-format mid-infrared single-photon imager with very low dark count rates would enable a broad range of applications in fields like astronomy and chemistry. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are a mature photon-counting technology as demonstrated by their figures of merit such as high detection efficiencies and very low dark count rates. However, scaling SNSPDs to large array sizes for mid-infrared applications requires sophisticated readout architectures in addition to superconducting materials development. In this work, an SNSPD array design that combines a thermally coupled row-column multiplexing architecture with a thermally coupled time-of-flight transmission line was developed for mid-infrared applications. The design requires only six cables and can be scaled to larger array sizes. The demonstration of a 64-pixel array shows promising results for wavelengths between 3.4 μm and 10 μm, which will enable the use of this single-photon detector technology for a broad range of new applications.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

124

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0178931

Local Download

Keywords

SNSPD, mid-infrared, single photon detector, thermally-coupled imager

Citation

Hampel, B. , Mirin, R. , Nam, S. and Verma, V. (2024), A 64-pixel mid-infrared single-photon imager based on superconducting nanowire detectors, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0178931, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956547 (Accessed October 9, 2025)