Counting Near Infrared Photons with Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Published

May 22, 2017

Author(s)

Jiansong Gao, Michael R. Vissers, Joel N. Ullom, Johannes Hubmayr, Joseph W. Fowler, Leila R. Vale, Weijie Guo

Abstract

We demonstrate photon counting at 1550~nm wavelength using microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) made from TiN/Ti/TiN trilayer films with superconducting transition temperature $T_{c} \sim$ 1.4~K. The detector has a lump-element design with a large interdigitated capacitor (IDC) covered by aluminum and an inductive photon absorber whose volume ranges from 0.4~$\mu$m$^3$ to 20~$\mu$m$^3$. We find that the energy resolution improves as the absorber volume is reduced. We have achieved a energy resolution of 0.22~eV and resolved up to 7 photon per pulse, both greatly improved from previously reported results at 1550~nm wavelength using MKID. Further improvements are possible by optimizing the optical coupling to maximize the photon absorption into the inductive absorber.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Issue

212601

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Photon Counting, Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Citation

Gao, J. , Vissers, M. , Ullom, J. , Hubmayr, J. , Fowler, J. , Vale, L. and Guo, W. (2017), Counting Near Infrared Photons with Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, Applied Physics Letters (Accessed October 8, 2025)