Materials, devices, and systems for high-speed single-photon counting

• Optical communications and high-speed optoelectronics are enabling technologies for modern information networks. Driven by the need for improved bandwidth, high efficiency, and low noise, advances over the last decades have led to high-performance photodetectors operating at the quantum limit. In particular, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) provide excellent performance in terms of high detection efficiency and low noise. In this article, we highlight materials challenges in these detectors and review recent progress on devices, and systems for high-count-rate single-photon counting with SPADs and SNSPDs. Device configurations specifically designed for high-speed optoelectronics are discussed, including active detector readout schemes. Advantages and tradeoffs of the different device technologies are summarized and compared, providing an outlook on future prospects for performance optimization and emerging applications. 

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Optoelectronics

Single-photon avalanche diode

Single-photon detection

SNSPD

SPAD

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detector

Avalanche photodiodes

Efficiency

Nanowires

Particle beams

Photons

Devices and systems

High-speed optoelectronics

Lower noise

Performance

Single photon avalanche diode

Single photon counting

Single photon detection

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

Optical communication

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)