Kilopixel array of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

Abstract

We present a 1024-element near-infrared imaging array of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) using a 32×32 row-column multiplexing architecture. The array has an active area of 0.96 × 0.96 mm, making it the largest SNSPD array reported to date in terms of both active area and pixel count. Using a 64-channel time-tagging readout, we have characterized the array's yield, efficiency, and timing resolution. Large arrays of SNSPDs are desirable for applications such as imaging, spectroscopy, or particle detection.