title: Single-photon detector for long-distance fiber-optic quantum key distribution.
abstract: We have investigated the performance of an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode for photon counting at 1550 nm in the temperature range of thermoelectric cooling. A quantum efficiency of 13.7% was obtained at -55 degrees C , while the dark-count probability per gate (?1 ns) was kept as small as 2.4x10(-5) . The developed single-photon detector would yield a 104.4-km fiber-optic quantum key distribution in the ideal condition.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Namekata
authors.forename: Yuuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue