Photon detection at 1 ns time intervals using 16-element SNSPD array with SFQ multiplexer

Abstract

We demonstrate the high-speed operation of a 16-element superconducting nanostrip single-photon detector (SNSPD) array with a single flux quantum (SFQ) multiplexer. The SFQ multiplexer can reshape the output signals from 16-element SNSPD into pulses with durations shorter than 1 ns and bundle these pulses into one output line, which is advantageous for high-speed operation of the SNSPD array system. We confirmed the correct operation of the 16-element SNSPD system with a system detection efficiency of 80% at a wavelength of 1550 nm, timing jitter of 45 ps, and successful observation of photons at 1 ns time intervals as distinguishable output pulses. The reduction in detection efficiency could also be suppressed to ∼0.93 during the dead time of ∼10<i>n</i><i>s</i> for each SNSPD pixel when the incident photon flux was relatively low at 0.1 photon/pulse.