title: Nanoantenna enhancement for telecom-wavelength superconducting single photon detectors.
abstract: Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors are rapidly emerging as a key infrared photon-counting technology. Two front-side-coupled silver dipole nanoantennas, simulated to have resonances at 1480 and 1525 nm, were fabricated in a two-step process. An enhancement of 50 to 130% in the system detection efficiency was observed when illuminating the antennas. This offers a pathway to increasing absorption into superconducting nanowires, creating larger active areas, and achieving more efficient detection at longer wavelengths.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Glasgow , Glasgow, G12 8LT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Drysdale
authors.forename: Shigehito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hadfield
keywords: Infrared detector; SNSPD; nanoantenna; single photon detector; superconducting nanowire