Superconducting microwire detectors based on WSi with single-photon sensitivity in the near-infrared

Abstract

We report on the fabrication and characterization of single-photon-sensitive WSi superconducting detectors with wire widths from 1 μm to 3 μm. The devices achieve the saturated internal detection efficiency at a wavelength of 1.55 μm and exhibit maximum count rates in excess of 105 s−1. We also investigate the material properties of the silicon-rich WSi films used for these devices. We find that many devices with active lengths of several hundred micrometers exhibit critical currents in excess of 50% of the depairing current. A meandered detector with a 2.0 μm wire width is demonstrated over a surface area of 362 × 362 μm2, showcasing the material and device quality achieved.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 15, 2020
Source ID
10.1063/5.0006221

Entities

People

  • A. Lita
  • B. Korzh
  • Jason Allmaras
  • Jeff Chiles
  • Jeffrey Shainline
  • M. D. Shaw
  • Richard P Mirin
  • S. W. Nam
  • Sonia Buckley
  • V. B. Verma

Organizations

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Superconducting Magnet Technology