Experimental test of theories of the detection mechanism in a nanowire superconducting single photon detector.
We report an experimental test of the photodetection mechanism in a nanowire superconducting single photon detector. Detector tomography allows us to explore the 0.8-8 eV energy range via multiphoton excitations. High accuracy results enable a detailed comparison of the experimental data with theories for the mechanism of photon detection. We show that the temperature dependence of the efficiency of the superconducting single photon detector is determined not by the critical current but by the current associated with vortex unbinding. We find that both quasiparticle diffusion and vortices play a role in the detection event.
Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, Netherlands.
J J
JJ
Renema
COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands.
R
R
Gaudio
Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, Netherlands.
Q
Q
Wang
COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Z
Z
Zhou
Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (IFN), CNR, via Cineto Romano 42, 00156 Roma, Italy.
A
A
Gaggero
Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (IFN), CNR, via Cineto Romano 42, 00156 Roma, Italy.
F
F
Mattioli
Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (IFN), CNR, via Cineto Romano 42, 00156 Roma, Italy.
R
R
Leoni
COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands.
D
D
Sahin
Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, Netherlands.
M J A
MJ
de Dood
COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, Post Office Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands.
A
A
Fiore
Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden, Netherlands.
M P
MP
van Exter