Compact Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detector System

Many demanding photonic applications require high-efficiency and high-speed photon counting. For these applications, superconducting nanowire photon detectors have capabilities that exceed those of conventional single-photon counting devices such as vacuum tubes and semiconductor devices. Comparatively, nanowire detectors exhibit higher infrared sensitivity, higher speed, lower intrinsic noise, and the ability for continuous operation. These increased capabilities enable new measurements and applications. In this Phase II work we propose to design, build, and demonstrate a two-channel, fiber-coupled, near-infrared single-photon detection system with unparalleled detection efficiency, high speed, low-noise, operating in a turn-key compact cryostat.