Development of SNSPD System with Gifford-McMahon Cryocooler

TL;DR

This paper reports the development of a cryocooler-based SNSPD system operating at telecommunication wavelengths, achieving stable, cryogen-free, continuous operation with high detection efficiency and low dark counts.

Contribution

The authors developed a cryocooler-based SNSPD system that operates continuously without cryogens, demonstrating stable performance at telecommunication wavelengths.

Findings

Achieved stable operation for over 10 hours with constant detection efficiency.

Demonstrated high detection efficiency of up to 4.5% at 1550 nm.

System operates without cryogen, powered by 100 V AC.

Abstract

A superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) system for telecommunication wavelength using a GM cryocooler was developed and its performance was verified. The cryocooler based SNSPD system can operate continuously with a 100 V AC power supply without any cryogen. The packaged SNSPD device was cooled to 2.96 K within a thermal fluctuation range of 10 mK. An SNSPD with an area of 20 x 20 $\mu m^2$ showed good system detection efficiency (DE) at 100 Hz dark count rate of 2.6% and 4.5% at wavelengths of 1550 and 1310 nm, respectively. An SNSPD with an area of 10 x 10 $\mu m^2$ and kinetic inductance lower than that of the large area device showed good system DE of 2.6% at a wavelength of 1550 nm. The SNSPD system could be operated for over 10 h with constant system DE and dark count rate.