Development of Superconducting Single-Photon Detectors for Quantum Information Applications

Résumé

Single-photon detectors are a key enabling technology for the realization of light-based quantum information applications. These devices operate at the fundamental limit of electromagnetic signal strength, which places stringent requirements on their performance. The quest for an ideal single-photon detector aims to combine as many of the following performance metrics as possible: near-unity detection efficiency, ultra-low dark count rates, fast temporal response, and photon-number-resolving capability, all across a wide spectral range. In this presentation I will review the development and latest performance records achieved by single-photon detectors, with a focus on superconducting detectors such as Superconducting Nanowires Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) and Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs). I will highlight how these detectors have redefined the state-of-the-art and conclude by showcasing representative applications in quantum information science and related fields.

Adriana E. Lita

Adriana E. Lita is a Staff Scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with over two decades of expertise in fabrication and development of superconducting single-photon detectors. Her research focuses on advancing the performance limits of Transition-Edge Sensors (TES) and Superconducting Nanowires Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPD), including the development of record-high quantum efficiency and energy resolution devices across the UV to near-IR spectrum. Her work further extends to materials development and integration of superconducting detectors with photonic waveguide platforms. These single-photon detectors have been used by laboratories worldwide enabling milestone experiments in fundamental quantum mechanics, metrology of quantum light states, dark matter searches and implementations of photonic quantum computing.