title: Absolute efficiency and time-response measurement of single-photon detectors.
abstract: Using correlated photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion, we have measured both the absolute quantum efficiencies and the time responses of four single-photon detectors. Efficiencies as high as (76.4 ± 2.3)% (at 702 nm) were seen, which to our knowledge are the highest reported single-photon detection efficiencies. An auxiliary retroreflection mirror was found to increase the net detection efficiency by as much as a factor of 1.19. The narrowest time profile for coincidences between two detectors displays a peak with 300 ps FWHM. We also investigated the presence of afterpulses and the effects of saturation and varying device parameters.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kwiat
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Chiao
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Petroff