Statistical analysis of the temporal single-photon response of superconducting nanowire single photon detection

TL;DR

This paper introduces a statistical method to analyze the transient detection efficiency and pulse amplitude of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors during current recovery, linking static measurements to dynamic behavior.

Contribution

It presents a novel statistical approach to study the transient response of SNSPDs, enabling better understanding of their current recovery process and counting rate limitations.

Findings

Transient detection efficiency matches static current dependence results.

Static measurements can analyze the current recovery process.

Method improves understanding of SNSPD counting rate limitations.

Abstract

Counting rate is a key parameter of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPD) and is determined by the current recovery time of an SNSPD after a detection event. We propose a new method to study the transient detection efficiency (DE) and pulse amplitude during the current recovery process by statistically analyzing the single photon response of an SNSPD under photon illumination with a high repetition rate. The transient DE results match well with the DEs deduced from the static current dependence of DE combined with the waveform of a single-photon detection event. This proves that the static measurement results can be used to analyze the transient current recovery process after a detection event. The results are relevant for understanding the current recovery process of SNSPDs after a detection event and for determining the counting rate of SNSPDs.