Timing Jitter Characterization of the SFQ Coincidence Circuit by Optically Time-Controlled Signals From SSPDs

Abstract

We report on the timing jitter characterization of the superconducting single flux quantum (SFQ) coincidence circuit, which is an essential component of the superconducting coincidence photon counter. Two superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SSPDs), each of which is irradiated with optically time-controlled photons, are connected to the SFQ coincidence circuit, and the timing jitter of the SFQ circuit is evaluated by changing the relative time delay between two input ports for the SFQ comparator unit. We successfully observe the transition curve of the probability of obtaining the signal from the SFQ coincidence circuit by sweeping photon arrival time to each SSPD and confirm that this curve shifts temporally upon changing the bias current to the Josephson transmission line (JTL) in the SFQ circuit. A systematic investigation reveals that the relation between time delay and the bias current to JTL can be estimated. The full width half maximum timing jitter of the SFQ circuit is 1.1 ps, which is sufficiently low so that it does not influence the entire timing jitter of the coincidence photon counter.