Chinese Science Bulletin

, Volume 55, Issue 4–5, pp 441–445 | Cite as

Single photon response of superconducting nanowire single photon detector

Articles Optoelectronics
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Abstract

Single photon detection is one of the key technologies for quantum key distribution in quantum communication. As a novel single photon detection technology, superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) surpasses conventional semiconducting single photon detectors with high count rate and low dark count rate. In this article, we introduce SNSPD fabricated from NbN ultrathin superconducting film and lab-based SNSPD system. The characteristics of single photon response pulse of SNSPD are analyzed in detail. Also discussed is the relationship between waveform of single photon response and system bandwidth. Circuit model is made to analyze the performance of SNSPD. The simulation result agrees well with the experimental data. Those results are valuable for understanding the mechanism of SNSPD and building future SNSPD system for quantum communication.

Keywords

quantum communication single photon detection superconducting nanowire single photon detector kinetic inductance 
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Copyright information

© Science in China Press and Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Informatics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT)Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina

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