Optical Single-Photon Detection in Micrometer-Scale NbN Bridges
Yu P. Korneeva (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
D. Yu Vodolazov (Russian Academy of Sciences, Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
A. V. Semenov (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
I. N. Florya (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
N. Simonov (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
E. Baeva (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University))
A. A. Korneev (Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University))
G. N. Goltsman (National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University), Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
T. M. Klapwijk (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - QN/Klapwijk Lab, Chemistry Faculty of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University)
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Abstract
We demonstrate experimentally that single-photon detection can be achieved in micrometer-wide NbN bridges, with widths ranging from 0.53 to 5.15 μm and for photon wavelengths of 408 to 1550 nm. The microbridges are biased with a dc current close to the experimental critical current, which is estimated to be about 50% of the theoretically expected depairing current. These results offer an alternative to the standard superconducting single-photon detectors, based on nanometer-scale nanowires implemented in a long meandering structure. The results are consistent with improved theoretical modeling based on the theory of nonequilibrium superconductivity, including the vortex-assisted mechanism of initial dissipation.