Applied Physics Seminar

Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector Arrays for Optical Communication and Quantum Optics

Matt Shaw, JPL,

Tungsten Silicide Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (WSi SNSPDs) are a revolutionary new technology for efficient time-correlated single photon counting in the near- and mid-infrared. WSi SNSPDs have recently achieved over 90% detection efficiency at 1550 nm, with ~100 ps time resolution, low dark counts, high maximum count rates, and an operating range at wavelengths as long as 5 microns. We will discuss recent progress in fabricating and reading out 64-pixel arrays of such detectors, and applications of these detectors to enable new kinds of science. Specifically, we will discuss recent progress using WSi SNSPDs for space-based optical communication experiments and quantum optics, as well as the prospects for their use in high time resolution astrophysics, physical chemistry, and remote sensing.

Event Sponsors:

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For more information, please contact Christy Jenstad by phone at 8124 or by email at [email protected].