Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors at the infrared spectrum range: detection efficiency and timing jitter

Abstract

This paper reviews some recent research progress in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) at the infrared spectrum range, with particular emphasis on detection efficiency and timing jitter. For detection efficiency, we present fractal SNSPDs with reduced polarization sensitivity; for timing jitter, we present two mechanisms of device timing jitter – vortex-crossing-induced timing jitter and spatial-inhomogeneity-induced timing jitter.