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Extending single-photon optimized superconducting transition edge sensors beyond the single-photon counting regime

Published

Author(s)

Thomas Gerrits, Brice R. Calkins, Nathan A. Tomlin, Adriana E. Lita, Alan L. Migdall, Richard P. Mirin, Sae Woo Nam

Abstract

We illuminate a photon-number-resolving transition edge sensor with strong pulses of light containing up to 6.7 million photons (0.85 pJ per pulse). These bright pulses heat the sensor far beyond its transition edge into the normal resistance regime. We show that the sensor operates from the single- photon-counting regime to picowatt levels of light and that the detection noise is below shot-noise for up to 1000 photons.
Proceedings Title
Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics & Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS)
Conference Dates
May 6-11, 2012
Conference Location
San Jose, CA

Keywords

transition edge sensor, photon counting, photo detector calibration, low light level detection

Citation

Gerrits, T. , Calkins, B. , Tomlin, N. , Lita, A. , Migdall, A. , Mirin, R. and Nam, S. (2012), Extending single-photon optimized superconducting transition edge sensors beyond the single-photon counting regime, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics & Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO/QELS), San Jose, CA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=910311 (Accessed April 25, 2024)
Created May 6, 2012, Updated February 19, 2017