Optical single photon detection in micron-scaled NbN bridges

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that micron-scale NbN bridges can detect single photons across a range of wavelengths, offering an alternative to traditional nanowire SSPDs and supported by advanced non-equilibrium superconductivity models.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach for single-photon detection using micron-wide NbN bridges, expanding the design possibilities beyond nanowire-based SSPDs.

Findings

Single photon detection achieved in NbN bridges 0.53 to 5.15 μm wide.

Detection effective for wavelengths from 408 nm to 1550 nm.

Experimental critical current about 50% of the theoretical depairing current.

Abstract

We demonstrate experimentally that single photon detection can be achieved in micron-wide NbN bridges, with widths ranging from 0.53 $\mu$m to 5.15 $\mu$m and for photon-wavelengths from 408 nm to 1550 nm. The microbridges are biased with a dc current close to the experimental critical current, which is estimated to be about 50 % of the theoretically expected depairing current. These results offer an alternative to the standard superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs), based on nanometer scale nanowires implemented in a long meandering structure. The results are consistent with improved theoretical modelling based on the theory of non-equilibrium superconductivity including the vortex-assisted mechanism of initial dissipation.