Frequency-Multiplexed bias and readout of a 16-pixel Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector Array

TL;DR

This paper presents a 16-pixel superconducting nanowire single-photon detector array utilizing frequency-division multiplexing, significantly reducing readout complexity while maintaining high performance and photon resolution.

Contribution

The work introduces a scalable RF multiplexing architecture for large SNSPD arrays, enabling simplified readout with preserved detector performance.

Findings

Successful demonstration of a 16-pixel array with multiplexed readout

Achieved temporal, spatial, and photon-number resolution

Maintained high timing jitter and optical performance

Abstract

We demonstrate a 16-pixel array of radio-frequency superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors with an integrated and scalable frequency-division multiplexing architecture, reducing the required bias and readout lines to a single microwave feed line. The electrical behavior of the photon-sensitive nanowires, embedded in a resonant circuit, as well as the optical performance and timing jitter of the single detectors is discussed. Besides the single pixel measurements we also demonstrate the operation of the 16-pixel array with a temporal, spatial and photon-number resolution.