Time-correlated single-photon counting with superconducting single-photon detectors

Published

October 1, 2006

Author(s)

Martin Stevens, Robert Hadfield, Robert E. Schwall, Sae Woo Nam, Richard Mirin

Abstract

We report use of a niobium nitride superconducting single-photon detector in a time-correlated single-photon counting experiment. The detector has a timing jitter of 68 +/- 3 ps full-width at half-maximum with a Gaussian temporal profile. The detector's dark count rate and detection efficiency can be tuned by adjusting the bias current applied to the device. Typical values include a detection efficiency of 1-2% and a dark count rate below 100 Hz. We use this detector to measure time-resolved photoluminescence at wavelengths up to 1650 nm, well beyond the range of conventional silicon detectors. We also use this superconducting detector to measure the emission of a quantum dot single-photon source.

Proceedings Title

Optics East 2006: Industrial Sensing Technologies

Volume

6372

Conference Dates

October 1-4, 2006

Conference Location

Boston, MA, USA

Conference Title

Optics East 2006

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

superconducting photodetectors, Time-correlated single-photon counting

Citation

Stevens, M. , Hadfield, R. , Schwall, R. , Nam, S. and Mirin, R. (2006), Time-correlated single-photon counting with superconducting single-photon detectors, Optics East 2006: Industrial Sensing Technologies, Boston, MA, USA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=32452 (Accessed October 11, 2025)