title: Nanoscale optical detector with single-photon and multiphoton sensitivity.
abstract: We present the first nanoscale (down to approximately 50 x 50 nm(2)) detector displaying single-photon sensitivity and a nanosecond response. This type of nanodetector can also be operated in multiphoton mode, where the detection threshold can be set at N = 1, 2, 3, or 4 photons, thus allowing the mapping of photon number statistics on the nanoscale. Its operation principle based on that of hot-spot formation in superconducting nanowires allies the temporal resolution and sensitivity of superconducting single-photon detectors with subwavelength resolution and photon number discrimination. Such detectors can be of great interest for the study of nanophotonic devices at low temperature.
authors.affiliation: COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. david.bitauld@tyndall.ie
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bitauld
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaggero
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.forename: Saeedeh Jahanmiri
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nejad
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lévy
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiore