Ultra-sensitive mid-infrared emission spectrometer using a WSi superconducting nanowire single-photon detector

Published

June 11, 2018

Author(s)

Varun Verma, Martin Stevens, Richard Mirin, Sae Woo Nam, Li Chen, Dirk Schwarzer, Jascha A. Lau

Abstract

We evaluate the performance of a mid-infrared emission spectrometer operating at wavelengths between 2 and 7 υm based on an amorphous tungsten silicide (a-WSi) superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). To demonstrate the spectrometer's capabilities, we perform laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of surface adsorbates with sub-monolayer sensitivity and sub-nanosecond temporal resolution. The a-WSi SNSPD shows saturated internal quantum efficiency at wavelengths between 1.5 υm and 2.5 υm, where the absolute internal quantum efficiency is found to be close to unity. The internal quantum efficiency remains above 10 % at wavelengths as long as 6 υm. We determine the noise equivalent power (NEP) of the current SNSPD detector system from 2 υm (4×10^-16^ W/√Hz) to 6 υm (5×10^-15^ W/√Hz) - these results are not yet limited by detector noise but rather from background radiation, which is largest near 4.5 υm (NEP=1×10^-14^ W/√Hz). This is nevertheless several orders of magnitude lower than semiconductor-based detectors typically used in this wavelength range. The temporal response is also markedly better. We discuss possible future improvements of the SNSPD-based infrared emission spectrometer and its potential applications in molecular science.

Citation

Optica

Volume

26

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.014859

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Keywords

mid-infrared emission spectrometer, WSi superconducting nanowire, single-photon, detector, WSi SNSPD

Citation

Verma, V. , Stevens, M. , Mirin, R. , Nam, S. , Chen, L. , Schwarzer, D. and Lau, J. (2018), Ultra-sensitive mid-infrared emission spectrometer using a WSi superconducting nanowire single-photon detector, Optica, [online], https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.014859, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=925017 (Accessed October 20, 2025)