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Single-photon detection using large-scale high-temperature MgB$_2$ sensors at 20 K

Charaev, Ilya; Batson, Emma K.; Cherednichenko, Sergey; Reidy, Kate; Drakinskiy, Vladimir; Yu, Yang; Lara-Avila, Samuel; Thomsen, Joachim D.; Colangelo, Marco; Incalza, Francesca; Ilin, Konstantin 1; Schilling, Andreas; Berggren, Karl K.
1 Institut für Mikro- und Nanoelektronische Systeme (IMS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

Ultra-fast single-photon detectors with high current density and operating temperature can benefit space and ground applications, including quantum optical communication systems, lightweight cryogenics for space crafts, and medical use. Here we demonstrate magnesium diboride (MgB$_2$) thin-film superconducting microwires capable of single-photon detection at 1.55  μm optical wavelength. We used helium ions to alter the properties of MgB$_2$, resulting in microwire-based detectors exhibiting single-photon sensitivity across a broad temperature range of up to 20 K, and detection efficiency saturation for 1  μm wide microwires at 3.7 K. Linearity of detection rate vs incident power was preserved up to at least 100 Mcps. Despite the large active area of up to 400 × 400 μm$^2$, the reset time was found to be as low as ~ 1 ns. Our research provides possibilities for breaking the operating temperature limit and maximum single-pixel count rate, expanding the detector area, and raises inquiries about the fundamental mechanisms of single-photon detection in high-critical-temperature superconductors.


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000171072
Veröffentlicht am 29.05.2024
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47353-x
Scopus
Zitationen: 4
Web of Science
Zitationen: 3
Dimensions
Zitationen: 6
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Mikro- und Nanoelektronische Systeme (IMS)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2024
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 2041-1723
KITopen-ID: 1000171072
Erschienen in Nature Communications
Verlag Nature Research
Band 15
Heft 1
Seiten Art.-Nr.: 3973
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 10.05.2024
Nachgewiesen in Web of Science
Dimensions
Scopus
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