Abstract
We investigate the transition from the photon-counting to the linear operation mode in a large-dynamic range photon-number-resolving-detector (PNRD). A 24-pixel photon-number-resolving-detector, based on superconducting nanowires in a series configuration, has been fabricated and characterized. The voltage pulses, generated by the pixels, are summed up into a single readout pulse whose height is proportional to the detected photon number. The device can resolve up to twenty-five distinct output levels corresponding to the detection of n = 0-24 photons. Due to its large dynamic range, high sensitivity, high speed and wide wavelength range, this device has potential for linear detection in the few tens of photons range. We show its application in the detection of analog optical signals at frequencies up to few hundred MHz and investigate the limits related to the finite number of pixels and to the pixel's dead time.
Highlights
Several applications from linear optical quantum computing [1] to near-infrared spectroscopy, optical communication [2] and quantum communication [3] need a linear detector in the single- to hundred-photon regime
We investigate the transition from the photon-counting to the linear operation mode in a large-dynamic range photon-number-resolvingdetector (PNRD)
SSPDs [11] have been taken as a starting point for Photon-number-resolving detectors (PNRDs) implementation because of their excellent performances in single-photon detection at telecommunication wavelengths
Summary
Several applications from linear optical quantum computing [1] to near-infrared spectroscopy, optical communication [2] and quantum communication [3] need a linear detector in the single- to hundred-photon regime. The voltage signals coming from all the pixels are summed up into a single readout pulse, whose height is proportional to the detected photon number This configuration was theoretically shown to be suitable for scaling to even larger photon numbers [8]. Due to its large dynamic range, high sensitivity, high speed and wide wavelength range, this device shows great potential for linear detection in the few tens of photons range, where a gap in detection technologies exists Taking advantage of this large dynamic range, we investigate the application of the PNRD in the measurement of analog optical signals and analyze the limitations related to the dynamic range and bandwidth. The parallel resistance Rp plays the key role of discharging each meander pixel after a resistive transition, avoiding latching
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