NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detector in an optical stack for front-side illumination

Published

Author(s)

Burm Baek, Jeffrey A. Stern, Sae Woo Nam

Abstract

We have integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors SNSPDs with an optical cavity design for front-side illumination. Our optical cavity design increases the coupling efficiency of light to the nanowire detector and enables straightforward proximity fiber-coupling for a multichannel detector system. Using a confocal optical scanning technique, we measured a significantly enhanced optical absorptance of 73% in comparison with 20% in a typical bare nanowire device at 1550 nm and 3 K. Our method of fabrication of these devices on a silicon wafer and the local optical absorptance measurement are important steps toward developing next-generation SNSPD technology.
Citation
Applied Physics Letters
Volume
95
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detector, SNSPD, SSPD, Cryogenic detector, Optical coating, Optical measurement, Scanning probe microscopy, Integrated photonics
Quantum information science

Citation

Baek, B. , Stern, J. and Nam, S. (2009), Superconducting nanowire single-photon detector in an optical stack for front-side illumination, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=903071 (Accessed October 13, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created November 12, 2009, Updated February 19, 2017
Was this page helpful?