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Xie Y, Liu H, Sun H, Liu K, Gao J. Far-field superresolution of thermal sources by double homodyne or double array homodyne detection. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:19495-19507. [PMID: 38859083 DOI: 10.1364/oe.523046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
We propose two schemes for estimating the separation of two thermal sources via double homodyne and double array homodyne detection considering the joint measurement of conjugate quadratures of the image plane field.By using the Cramér-Rao bound, we demonstrate that the two schemes can estimate the separation well below the Rayleigh limit and have an advantage over direct imaging when the average photon number per source exceeds five.For arbitrary source strengths, double homodyne detection is superior to homodyne detection when the separation is above 25/4 σ/N s , σ is the beam width, Ns is the average photon number per source.A larger separation can be estimated better via double array homodyne detection with the superiority of flexible operation compared with other schemes. High-speed and high-efficiency detection enables the measurement schemes with potential practical applications in fluorescence microscopy, astronomy and quantum imaging.
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2
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Gao T, Feng J. Cloud height and thickness measurement based on a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. A, OPTICS, IMAGE SCIENCE, AND VISION 2023; 40:1051-1057. [PMID: 37706758 DOI: 10.1364/josaa.479717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
At present, the methods for measuring cloud height and thickness mainly include using micro-pulse lidar and microwave radiometer data. To further study cloud height and thickness, a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) is applied to a lidar system for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, to analyze the cloud height and thickness. In the experiment, a 1.2-m-diameter horizon telescope is used for laser emitting and echo receiving, a 1064 nm near-IR pulse laser with a single pulse energy of 4 mJ is used as the system emission laser, and a 4-pixel SNSPD array detector is used as the end receiver to complete the echo photon reception. By analyzing the experimental data, the distributions of cloud height and cloud thickness can be obtained using the laser ranging system. The cloud cover condition on a certain day was measured, and the obtained cloud bottom height was about 1222 m, cloud top height was about 1394 m, and cloud cover thickness was about 172 m. The difference between the cloud cover thickness and the forecast value was 28 m. The cloud cover height and thickness measured by this method are true and credible.
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Xu GZ, Zhang WJ, You LX, Wang YZ, Xiong JM, Fan DH, Wu L, Yu HQ, Li H, Wang Z. Millimeter-scale active area superconducting microstrip single-photon detector fabricated by ultraviolet photolithography. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:16348-16360. [PMID: 37157715 DOI: 10.1364/oe.487024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The effective and convenient detection of single photons via advanced detectors with a large active area is becoming significant for quantum and classical applications. This work demonstrates the fabrication of a superconducting microstrip single-photon detector (SMSPD) with a millimeter-scale active area via the use of ultraviolet (UV) photolithography. The performances of NbN SMSPDs with different active areas and strip widths are characterized. SMSPDs fabricated by UV photolithography and electron beam lithography with small active areas are also compared from the aspects of the switching current density and line edge roughness. Furthermore, an SMSPD with an active area of 1 mm × 1 mm is obtained via UV photolithography, and during operation at 0.85 K, it exhibits near-saturated internal detection efficiency at wavelengths up to 800 nm. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, the detector exhibits a system detection efficiency of ∼5% (7%) and a timing jitter of 102 (144) ps, when illuminated with a light spot of ∼18 (600) µm in diameter, respectively.
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Cucciniello N, Lee D, Feng HY, Yang Z, Zeng H, Patibandla N, Zhu M, Jia Q. Superconducting niobium nitride: a perspective from processing, microstructure, and superconducting property for single photon detectors. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 34:374003. [PMID: 35779516 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac7dd6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Superconducting niobium nitride (NbN) continues to be investigated decades on, largely in part to its advantageous superconducting properties and wide use in superconducting electronics. Particularly, NbN-based superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have shown exceptional performance and NbN remains as the material of choice in developing future generation quantum devices. In this perspective, we describe the processing-structure-property relationships governing the superconducting properties of NbN films. We further discuss the complex interplay between the material properties, processing parameters, substrate materials, device architectures, and performance of SNSPDs. We also highlight the latest progress in optimizing SNSPD performance parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Cucciniello
- Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States of America
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States of America
| | - Henry Y Feng
- Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States of America
| | - Zihao Yang
- Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States of America
| | - Hao Zeng
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States of America
| | - Nag Patibandla
- Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States of America
| | - Mingwei Zhu
- Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States of America
| | - Quanxi Jia
- Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States of America
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Krueper G, Yu C, Libby SB, Mellors R, Cohen L, Gopinath JT. Realistic model of entanglement-enhanced sensing in optical fibers. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:8652-8666. [PMID: 35299312 DOI: 10.1364/oe.451058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Experimental limitations such as optical loss and noise have prevented entanglement-enhanced measurements from demonstrating a significant quantum advantage in sensitivity. Holland-Burnett entangled states can mitigate these limitations and still present a quantum advantage in sensitivity. Here we model a fiber-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer with internal loss, detector efficiency, and external phase noise and without pure entanglement. This model features a practical fiber source that transforms the two-mode squeezed vacuum (TMSV) into Holland-Burnett entangled states. We predict that a phase sensitivity 28% beyond the shot noise limit is feasible with current technology. Simultaneously, a TMSV source can provide about 25 times more photon flux than other entangled sources. This system will make fiber-based quantum-enhanced sensing accessible and practical for remote sensing and probing photosensitive materials.
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Marín-Suárez M, Peltonen JT, Golubev DS, Pekola JP. An electron turnstile for frequency-to-power conversion. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 17:239-243. [PMID: 35058656 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-01053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-electron transport relates an operation frequency f to the emitted current I through the electron charge e as I = ef (refs. 1-5). Similarly, direct frequency-to-power conversion (FPC) links both quantities through a known energy. FPC is a natural candidate for a power standard resorting to the most basic definition of the watt: energy emitted per unit of time. The energy is traceable to Planck's constant and the time is in turn traceable to the unperturbed ground state hyperfine transition frequency of the caesium 133 atom. Hence, FPC comprises a simple and elegant way to realize the watt6. In this spirit, single-photon emission7,8 and detection9 at known rates have been proposed as radiometric standards and experimentally realized10-14. However, power standards are so far only traceable to electrical units, that is, to the volt and the ohm6,15-17. In this Letter, we demonstrate an alternative proposal based on solid-state direct FPC using a hybrid single-electron transistor (SET). The SET injects n (integer) quasi-particles (QPs) per cycle into the two superconducting leads with discrete energies close to their superconducting gap Δ, even at zero source-drain voltage. Furthermore, the application of a bias voltage can vary the distribution of the power among the two leads, allowing for an almost equal power injection nΔf into the two. While in single-electron transport current is related to a fixed universal constant (e), in our approach Δ is a material-dependent quantity. We estimate that under optimized conditions errors can be well below 1%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Marín-Suárez
- Pico group, QTF Centre of Excellence, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland.
| | - Joonas T Peltonen
- Pico group, QTF Centre of Excellence, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland
| | - Dmitry S Golubev
- Pico group, QTF Centre of Excellence, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland
| | - Jukka P Pekola
- Pico group, QTF Centre of Excellence, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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7
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Kong L, Zhao Q, Wang H, Huang Y, Chen S, Hao H, Guo J, Tu X, Zhang L, Jia X, Kang L, Chen J, Wu P. Probabilistic Energy-to-Amplitude Mapping in a Tapered Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:1587-1594. [PMID: 35129992 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A spectrum-resolved photon detector is crucial for cutting-edge quantum optics, astronomical observation, and spectroscopic sensing. However, such an ability is rarely obtained because a direct linear conversion from weak single-photon energy to a readable electrical signal above the noise level without causing an avalanche is challenging. Here, we overcame these difficulties by building a probabilistic energy-to-amplitude mapping in a tapered superconducting nanowire single-photon detector and combining a computational reconstruction to obtain equivalent spectral resolving capacity. Distinguished dependence of pulse amplitude distributions on varied input spectra has been observed experimentally. As the energy-to-amplitude mapping is probabilistic, statistical measurements are required. By collecting around a few hundred photons, we have demonstrated wavelength perception over a wide spectral range from 600 to 1700 nm with a resolution of 100 nm. These findings represent a new approach to designing spectrum-sensitive SNSPDs for low-light spectroscopic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingdong Kong
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhao
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yanghui Huang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hao Hao
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jiawei Guo
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xuecou Tu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Labao Zhang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Xiaoqing Jia
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Lin Kang
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
| | - Peiheng Wu
- Research Institute of Superconductor Electronics (RISE), School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211111, China
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Sempere-Llagostera S, Thekkadath GS, Patel RB, Kolthammer WS, Walmsley IA. Reducing g (2)(0) of a parametric down-conversion source via photon-number resolution with superconducting nanowire detectors. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:3138-3147. [PMID: 35209439 DOI: 10.1364/oe.450172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiphoton contributions pose a significant challenge for the realisation of heralded single-photon sources (HSPS) based on nonlinear processes. In this work, we improve the quality of single photons generated in this way by harnessing the photon-number resolving (PNR) capabilities of commercial superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). We report a 13 ± 0.4% reduction of g(2)(τ = 0), even with a collection efficiency in the photon source of only 29.6%. Our work demonstrates the first application of the PNR capabilities of SNSPDs and shows improvement in the quality of an HSPS with widely available technology.
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Thekkadath GS, Sempere-Llagostera S, Bell BA, Patel RB, Kim MS, Walmsley IA. Single-shot discrimination of coherent states beyond the standard quantum limit. OPTICS LETTERS 2021; 46:2565-2568. [PMID: 34061057 DOI: 10.1364/ol.421646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The discrimination of coherent states is a key task in optical communication and quantum key distribution protocols. In this work, we use a photon-number-resolving detector, the transition-edge sensor, to discriminate binary-phase-shifted coherent states at a telecom wavelength. Owing to its dynamic range and high efficiency, we achieve a bit error probability that unconditionally exceeds the standard quantum limit (SQL) by up to 7.7 dB. The improvement to the SQL persists for signals containing up to approximately seven photons on average and is achieved in a single shot (i.e., without measurement feedback), thus making our approach compatible with larger bandwidths.
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10
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Endo M, Sonoyama T, Matsuyama M, Okamoto F, Miki S, Yabuno M, China F, Terai H, Furusawa A. Quantum detector tomography of a superconducting nanostrip photon-number-resolving detector. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:11728-11738. [PMID: 33984948 DOI: 10.1364/oe.423142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Superconducting nanostrip photon detectors have been used as single-photon detectors, which can discriminate only photons' presence or absence. It has recently been found that they can discriminate the number of photons by analyzing the output signal waveform, and they are expected to be used in various fields, especially in optical-quantum-information processing. Here, we improve the photon-number-resolving performance for light with a high-average photon number by pattern matching of the output signal waveform. Furthermore, we estimate the positive-operator-valued measure of the detector by a quantum detector tomography. The result shows that the device has photon-number-resolving performance up to five photons without any multiplexing or arraying, indicating that it is useful as a photon-number-resolving detector.
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Schapeler T, Philipp Höpker J, Bartley TJ. Quantum detector tomography of a 2×2 multi-pixel array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:33035-33043. [PMID: 33114973 DOI: 10.1364/oe.404285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate quantum detector tomography of a commercial 2×2 array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. We show that detector-specific figures of merit including efficiency, dark-count and cross-talk probabilities can be directly extracted, without recourse to the underlying detector physics. These figures of merit are directly identified from just four elements of the reconstructed positive operator valued measure (POVM) of the device. We show that the values for efficiency and dark-count probability extracted by detector tomography show excellent agreement with independent measurements of these quantities, and we provide an intuitive operational definition for cross-talk probability. Finally, we show that parameters required for the reconstruction must be carefully chosen to avoid oversmoothing the data.
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12
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Nomerotski A, Keach M, Stankus P, Svihra P, Vintskevich S. Counting of Hong-Ou-Mandel Bunched Optical Photons Using a Fast Pixel Camera. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E3475. [PMID: 32575595 PMCID: PMC7349248 DOI: 10.3390/s20123475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The uses of a silicon-pixel camera with very good time resolution (∼nanosecond) for detecting multiple, bunched optical photons is explored. We present characteristics of the camera and describe experiments proving its counting capabilities. We use a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source to generate correlated photon pairs, and exploit the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference effect in a fiber-coupled beam splitter to bunch the pair onto the same output fiber. It is shown that the time and spatial resolution of the camera enables independent detection of two photons emerging simultaneously from a single spatial mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Nomerotski
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (M.K.); (P.S.)
| | - Michael Keach
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (M.K.); (P.S.)
| | - Paul Stankus
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA; (M.K.); (P.S.)
| | - Peter Svihra
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 115 19 Prague, Czech Republic;
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Stephen Vintskevich
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskii Per. 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700 Moscow, Moscow Region, Russia;
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