Single-channel electronic readout of a multipixel superconducting nanowire single photon detector

Abstract

We present a time-over-threshold readout technique to count the number of activated pixels from an array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs). This technique maintains the intrinsic timing jitter of the individual pixels, places no additional heatload on the cryostat, and retains the intrinsic count rate of the time-tagger. We demonstrate proof-of-principle operation with respect to a four-pixel device. Furthermore, we show that, given some permissible error threshold, the number of pixels that can be reliably read out scales linearly with the intrinsic signal-to-noise ratio of the individual pixel response.

SNSPD Array with Single-Channel Readout Based on Compressive Sensing

“…If the ADC is used for readout, the coincidence response can be identified according to the signal amplitude when the time interval of the response signal is less than the FWHM of the single-photon response signal (∼5 ns for this SNSPD array). In addition to the ADC or TDC multithreshold scheme, the amplitude can be identified by the response signal's pulse width, 29 which only requires a two-channel TDC to collect time tags of rising and falling edges at fixed thresholds. Regardless of which scheme is adopted, expensive multichannel readout equipment can be avoided.…”

Two-Colour Spectrally Multimode Integrated SU(1,1) Interferometer

“…In an integrated design, the conversion window depends on the polling period and the length of polarisation converters [38]; therefore, their size and structure must be properly designed for a fruitful experimental realisation. In addition to polarisation converters, for a successful experimental implementation of the reported device, effective integrated non-degenerate PDC sources [40,41] together with integrated detectors [56,57], which have recently been realised in different integrated platforms, are strongly required. Finally, an electro-optic circuit that combines the generation, routing, and manipulation of photons on a compact integrated chip was recently demonstrated in [58], paving the way for the experimental realisation of various linear and nonlinear interferometric circuits on a single chip.…”

Quantum detector tomography of a 2×2 multi-pixel array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

“…Due to their low noise, high timing resolution and excellent efficiency across a broad wavelength range, superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) have become increasingly prevalent in low-photon-flux optical sensing [1][2][3][4][5]. Advances in fabrication yield and read-out techniques [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] have enabled arrays of such detectors to be developed [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], which have lead to applications in imaging [20,25,26] and deep space communication [27]. Such devices are also ideal for multiplexed photon counting in quantum optics experiments.…”