Enhanced telecom wavelength single-photon detection with NbTiN superconducting nanowires on oxidized silicon

Published

June 3, 2010

Author(s)

Michael G. Tanner, C. M. Natarajan, V. K. Pottapenjara, J. A. O?Connor, R. J. Warburton, Robert Hadfield, Burm Baek, Sae Woo Nam, S. Dorenbos, T. Zijlstra, Teun Klapwijk, Val Zwiller

Abstract

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have emerged as a highly promising infrared single-photon detector technology. Next-generation devices are being developed with enhanced detection efficiency (DE) at key technological wavelengths via the use of optical cavities. Furthermore, new materials and substrates are being explored for improved fabrication versatility, higher DE, and lower dark counts. We report on the practical performance of packaged NbTiN SNSPDs fabricated on oxidized silicon substrates in the wavelength range from 830 to 1700 nm. We exploit constructive interference from the SiO2 / Si interface in order to achieve enhanced front-side fiber-coupled DE of 23.2 % at 1310 nm, at 1 kHz dark count rate, with 60 ps full width half maximum timing jitter.

Citation

Applied Physics Letters

Volume

96

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

single photon detector, superconducting nanowire single photon detector

Citation

Tanner, M. , Natarajan, C. , Pottapenjara, V. , O?Connor, J. , Warburton, R. , Hadfield, R. , Baek, B. , Nam, S. , Dorenbos, S. , Zijlstra, T. , Klapwijk, T. and Zwiller, V. (2010), Enhanced telecom wavelength single-photon detection with NbTiN superconducting nanowires on oxidized silicon, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=904930 (Accessed October 16, 2025)