Jitter analysis of a superconducting nanowire single photon detector

TL;DR

This study investigates the factors affecting jitter in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors, achieving record low jitter and high depth resolution through optimized measurement and device improvements.

Contribution

The paper presents an extensive analysis of jitter dependence on bias current and temperature, and demonstrates a record depth resolution using a high-critical-current SNSPD.

Findings

System jitter reduced to 18 ps

Intrinsic SNSPD jitter of 15 ps

Achieved 3 mm depth resolution at 1550 nm

Abstract

Jitter is one of the key parameters for a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD). Using an optimized time-correlated single photon counting system for jitter measurement, we extensively studied the dependence of system jitter on the bias current and working temperature. The signal-to-noise ratio of the single-photon-response pulse was proven to be an important factor in system jitter. The final system jitter was reduced to 18 ps by using a high-critical-current SNSPD, which showed an intrinsic SNSPD jitter of 15 ps. A laser ranging experiment using a 15-ps SNSPD achieved a record depth resolution of 3 mm at a wavelength of 1550 nm.