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Absorption bleaching of squarylium dye J aggregates via a two-photon excitation process
Squarylium dye J aggregates exhibit ultrafast nonlinear optical response of absorption saturation at the resonant wavelength of 770 nm. We studied the two-photon excitation process of J aggregates. By...

Picosecond superconducting single-photon optical detector

Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 705 (2001); doi:10.1063/1.1388868

Issue Date: 6 August 2001

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G. N. Gol'tsman, O. Okunev, G. Chulkova, A. Lipatov, A. Semenov, K. Smirnov, B. Voronov, and A. Dzardanov
Department of Physics, Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow 119435, Russia

C. Williams and Roman Sobolewski
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627-0231
We experimentally demonstrate a supercurrent-assisted, hotspot-formation mechanism for ultrafast detection and counting of visible and infrared photons. A photon-induced hotspot leads to a temporary formation of a resistive barrier across the superconducting sensor strip and results in an easily measurable voltage pulse. Subsequent hotspot healing in ~30 ps time frame, restores the superconductivity (zero-voltage state), and the detector is ready to register another photon. Our device consists of an ultrathin, very narrow NbN strip, maintained at 4.2 K and current-biased close to the critical current. It exhibits an experimentally measured quantum efficiency of ~20% for 0.81 µm wavelength photons and negligible dark counts. ©2001 American Institute of Physics.
History: Received 22 January 2001; accepted 1 June 2001
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?APPLAB/79/705/1
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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 85.25.Oj
    Electronic and magnetic devices; microelectronics Superconducting devices Superconducting optical, x-ray, and gamma-ray detectors (SIS, NIS, transition edge)
  • 85.60.Gz
    Electronic and magnetic devices; microelectronics Optoelectronic devices Photodetectors (including infrared and CCD detectors)
  • 85.25.Pb
    Electronic and magnetic devices; microelectronics Superconducting devices Superconducting infrared, submillimeter and millimeter wave detectors
  • 74.70.Ad
    Superconductivity Superconducting materials (excluding high-Tc compounds) Metals; alloys and binary compounds (including A15, Laves phases, etc.)
  • 74.76.Db
    Superconductivity Superconducting films Conventional superconducting films
  • 06.60.Jn
    Metrology, measurements, and laboratory procedures Laboratory procedures High-speed techniques (microsecond to femtosecond)
  • 74.25.Gz
    Superconductivity General properties; correlations between physical properties in normal and superconducting states Optical properties
  • YEAR: 2001

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PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
0003-6951 (print)   1077-3118 (online)
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REFERENCES (11)
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