Ultra-fast single-photon counting with waveguide-integrated detectors for quantum technologies

Beutel F; Häußler M; Terhaar R; Wolff MA; Hartmann W; Walter N; Tillmann M; Wahl M; Röhlicke T; Ahangarianabhari M; Bülter A; Wernicke D; Perlot N; Rödiger J; Schuck C; Pernice WHP

Research article in edited proceedings (conference)

Abstract

With recent advances in quantum technologies for applications such as communication, cryptography, computing, metrology and sensing, the performance and scalability of single-photon detection as a vital key component is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, ongoing efforts in the development of high-performance photonic integrated circuits (PIC) benefit the miniaturization and scalability of these quantum technologies. Waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (WI-SNSPDs) allow to combine excellent performance metrics, such as high detection efficiency, low dark-count rates and low timing jitter below 20 ps with the scalability and functionality that PIC platforms such as Si3N4 provide. We have previously demonstrated broadband efficient single-photon detection with a single device over a range from visible to mid-infrared wavelengths and ultra-fast detector recovery times allowing for up to GHz count rates. Here, we present the utilization of WI-SNSPDs for discrete-variable quantum cryptography receivers with the complete photonic circuitry embedded together with the single-photon detectors on a single silicon chip, where the secret-key rates greatly benefit from the short recovery times of the detectors especially for metropolitan distances. We further realize a fully packaged 64 channel WI-SNSPD matrix for use in a wavelengthdivision multiplexed QKD setup.

Details zur Publikation

Publisher: Itzler MA; Bienfang JC; McIntosh KA
Book title: Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XVI
Release year: 2022
Publishing company: SPIE
Event: Orlando
Link to the full text: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2620329