A Multi-Layer Three Dimensional Superconducting Nanowire Photon Detector

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multi-layer superconducting nanowire photon detector design that enhances photon number resolution and pixel density, addressing limitations of current meander-based detectors for advanced photonics applications.

Contribution

It presents a novel multi-layer architecture for superconducting nanowire detectors, significantly improving photon number resolution and pixel density over existing designs.

Findings

Enhanced photon number resolution compared to traditional designs

Ability to place many detector pixels in close proximity

Design modifications to prevent latching failures

Abstract

Here we propose a new design paradigm for a superconducting nanowire single photon detector that uses a multi-layer architecture that places the electric leads beneath the nanowires. This allows for a very large number of detector elements, which we will call pixels in analogy to a conventional CCD camera, to be placed in close proximity. This leads to significantly better photon number resolution than current single and multi-nanowire meanders, while maintaining similar detection areas. We discuss the reset time of the pixels and how the design can be modified to avoid the latching failure seen in extremely short superconducting nanowires. These advantages give a multi-layer superconducting number-resolving photon detector significant advantages over the current design paradigm of long superconducting nanowire meanders. Such advantages are desirable in a wide array of photonics applications.